Father Vincent F. Corbelli, MM

Born: January 30, 1934
Ordained: June 11, 1960
Died: September 22, 2026

Father Corbelli died on September 22, 2026 in the Skilled Nursing Unit at Maryknoll, New York. He was 92 years old and a Maryknoll priest for 66 years.

Vincent Franklin Corbelli, one of five children of Joseph and Cesira Corbelli, was born on January 30, 1934, in Rochester, New York. His early schooling took place in Rochester at Holy Cross Grammar School and Aquinas Institute. During his senior year retreat, Vincent read about Maryknoll and its mission in the book, “You Can Change the World” by Father James Keller. After high school he entered Maryknoll at Lakewood, New Jersey, in September 1951 and was ordained on June 11, 1960. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Master of Religious Education in Theology.

After ordination Father Corbelli was assigned to the Development Department working first in Cleveland and later in Cincinnati, Ohio. In June 1964, he was assigned to Hong Kong and after language studies, began work as Assistant Pastor at Queen of Angels Parish. He taught for two years at the Maryknoll Fathers School and in 1968, became pastor of Resurrection Parish in the Kwun Tong resettlement area. Father Corbelli took over the directorship of the newly opened Kwun Tong Pastoral Centre in 1972. This Centre served eight parishes and thirteen schools in the area. In July 1976 he was appointed First Assistant Regional of the Area, and in December 1978, he was appointed Regional Superior to fill out the remainder of the term of Father John Cioppa who had been elected to the General Council. Father Corbelli was elected Regional Superior in September 1979 and, after completion of his term, studied for one year in Rome before returning to Hong Kong in 1984.

Upon his return to Hong Kong, Father Corbelli served in the New Territories as Pastor of Holy Redeemer Church and Rosary Parish. He was also the pastor of a new parish he founded, St. Jerome’s Parish, a large parish in Tin Shui Wai, as well as Sts. Peter and Paul Church and St. Jude’s Church in Hong Kong where he served as assistant pastor. Father Corbelli stated that founding the new St. Jerome Parish and being involved in building St. Jerome’s Church were the high points of his mission career.

Father Corbelli was appointed to Senior Missioner Status in 2018 and remained a member of the Asia Region. In 2021 he returned to the United States and was assigned to the U.S. Region. He lived with his family in upstate New York until November 2025 when he was assigned to the Senior Missioner Community and took up residence at the Society Center in Maryknoll, New York.

When asked what he would like people to understand about mission, Father Corbelli wrote, “The greatest gift we can give someone is to introduce him/her to Jesus Christ.”

Wake services were held on September 30, 2026 in the Holy Spirit Chapel and the Queen of Apostles Chapel at the Maryknoll Society Center. Mass of Christian Burial followed at 11:00 a.m. and was concelebrated in the Queen of Apostles Chapel. Father John McAuley served as Celebrant and homilist. Father Timothy Kilkelly read the biography and Father Edward Szendrey read the Oath. According to Father Corbelli’s wishes, he was cremated and his ashes will be interred in Rochester, New York.