R.I.P. Fr. Daniel Schwebs, OSJ

Reverend Daniel L. Schwebs, O.S.J. passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2026,following a lengthy illness at the Nazareth House, Fresno, CA.

A native of Garden City, Michigan, he was born on March 2, 1955, the only child of the late Clarence & Lillian (Perlini) Schwebs and a Roman Catholic priest of the Congregation of the Oblates of Saint Joseph. He entered the Oblate Order of the Pennsylvania Province in 1978, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree from King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, PA. Upon graduation in 1981, he went to Italy to continue his seminary formation for religious life and priesthood. He completed his year of novitiate in Pontremoli, then went to Rome to the Casa Generalizia  for theological studies at the Pontificial Urbaniana University. Completing his required preparatory studies, he returned back to Pittston, PA and was ordained a priest on May 24, 1986 by the late Bishop James C. Timlin of the Diocese of Scranton. 

Following ordination, Father Schwebs served as assistant pastor at St. Rocco’s Parish, Pittston, from 1986-1990; then as assistant pastor at St. Sebastian’s Parish, Middletown, CT, from 1990-1998, later appointed pastor from 1998-2001. He returned to Pennsylvania where he was appointed pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Exeter, from 2001-2006; then again at St.Rocco’s Parish as pastor from 2006-10, while also serving simultaneously as Administrator pro tem at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Pittston, from 2009-10. Following these pastoral assignments, he took up residence at the Oblates of St. Joseph Seminary, Laflin, until 2014, then assigned as Resident Priest at Holy Annunciation Parish, Hazleton. In 2019 he was granted permission to return to his family home in Garden City, MI to assist his elderly parents. Following their passing, he returned back into religious community with a brief stay in Pittston, PA, followed by his final transfer to Oblate religious houses on the west coast in Loomis & Madera, CA. Besides these various roles, he also served the former Pennsylvania province as vocation director, director of Oblate Laity, and a member of the provincial council.

Father Danny, as he was affectionately called by the faithful, was loved and respected for his kind, ordinary and gentle manner of living. Reflecting the life of St. Joseph & the Holy Founder, he often remained in the background without much public attention, simply performing his ministry and connecting with the hearts of those whom he served. 

Funeral Masses were celebrated in both California & Pennsylvania with final interment in the plot of the deceased confreres at St. Rocco’s Cemetery, Pittston, Pennsylvania.