Joseph Lawrence Pallo

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, 
With faith in Eternal life that comes through our Lord Jesus Christ, it is my sad duty to announce the death of Fr. Joseph Pallo. His 61 years of faithful priestly ministry touched many lives 
through the years as a Pastor, Youth Director, and Vocations director. Even after transitioning to Senior Priest status, Fr. Pallo continued to assist at his adopted parish in California. 
Rev. Joseph Lawrence Pallo entered eternal life on October 27, 2022, at Carmel Village Retirement Home in Fountain Valley, California. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, he was born on September 10, 1930. He attended Saint John's Home Missions Seminary in Little Rock and was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Albeit L. Fletcher at the Cathedral of St. Andrew on May 27, 1961. 
Fr. Pallo served as associate pastor in two parishes: Our Lady of Good Counsel in Little Rock (1961-1965) and St. Joseph in Pine Bluff(1965-1967). In 1967, Father Pallo served as Chaplain of Saint Vincent's Infirmary in Little Rock while residing at Saint John's Seminary in Little Rock. In addition to his parochial ministry, Father Pallo assisted and led several diocesan offices. He was Assistant Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Little Rock, Diocesan Director of the Newman Apostolate (college campus ministry), Diocesan Youth Director, and Vocations Director. Seminarians and young priests assigned to work with Father Pallo recall his kindness, practical wisdom, and assistance that a priest be a servant who can work to care for the spiritual and temporal needs of the people. He served as the pastor of Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish in Fayetteville and the Newman Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas (1977-1989) where he inspired many college students to grow in their faith for twelve years before becoming the pastor of Immaculate Conception in Blytheville and its missions for over twenty-two years (1989-2011). In addition to serving as pastor, Father Pallo ministered as an auxiliary chaplain Eaker Air Force Base until the base closed in 1992. Father Pallo served as Dean of the N01theast Deanery until his transition to seniorpriest status in 2011 when he relocated to Fountain Valley, California where he volunteered his assistance to the parish of St. Vincent De Paul in Huntington Beach, California. 
Father Pallo is preceded in death by his parents Joseph Louis and Anna Veronica Pallo; and four siblings George Pallo, Mary Wood Gamage, Ann Pallo, and Josephine Krajny. He is survived by his brother, Albert, nieces and nephews in the United States, and cousins in Slovakia. 

"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." (Heb. 7:17) 

 

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