By Sue Denny • Posted July 1, 2026

Father Michael D. Murphy, the longtime pastor of St. Dorothy Parish in Drexel Hill, will celebrate his final Mass at the church on July 1, then retire with his canine companion to the Riviera. That’s the Irish Riviera, the retiring pastor’s nickname for Sea Isle City, N.J.

Father Murphy, 75, owned four dogs during his 38-year tenure at St. Dot’s, but Blaze has been the most visible. The 2-year-old golden retriever is a familiar sight in the rectory, a welcome visitor at the church and parish school, and a local celebrity on the official parish Facebook page.

On April 26, more than 1,500 well-wishers attended a farewell celebration hosted by St. Dorothy’s Parish Pastoral Council. Father Murphy was both touched and humbled by the large turnout, affirmation of his many years of dedicated ministry.

“It was like being in a room filled with love for you,” he recalled. “Not many people get that in their lifetime.”

Father Michael Murphy poses with his golden retriever, Blaze.

After 15 years as assistant pastor and 23 years as pastor, he estimates he’s officiated at thousands of weddings, funerals, and baptisms. In fact, he spent his final weekends before retirement baptizing infants on both Saturdays and Sundays.

The parish will sorely miss him — and his beloved Blaze.

“Dogs bring out so much love in people — pets in general, but dogs in particular,” Father Murphy said. “The unconditional love they give is just crazy.”

Father Murphy, the oldest of 10 children, always wanted a dog growing up. He still remembers his mother’s repeated refusals. “‘No, you can’t have a dog. You’ve got brothers and sisters.’”

Throughout much of his adult life, dogs have been his constant companions; four have blessed the St. Dorothy Parish community: Prince, Duke, Bear, and now Blaze.

Parishioners actively follow Blaze’s antics and reflections on St. Dot’s Facebook page, plastered with more than 500 photos of him. Accompanying posts begin with a standard greeting: “Dear FOB’s” (short for “Friends of Blaze”). They are written from the parish pup’s perspective with frequent references to “Dad” (Father Murphy) and “Uncle Dan” (Msgr. Daniel J. Kutys, senior priest residing at the parish).

Father Murphy started his Facebook posts soon after he picked up Blaze on Father’s Day 2024. He started posting on a whim, a fun and creative way to engage the parish community.

Interest was immediate, and parishioners encouraged him to continue, he said. “People told me, ‘You’ve got to keep this up.’”

Golden retrievers Blaze (front) and Sage are preparing to relocate to the Jersey Shore following the July 1 retirement of their owners, Father Michael D. Murphy and Father Michael A. Colagreco.

The number of official followers has grown to more than 5,300. “If I don’t post, people will call and ask me, ‘What’s going on?’” he said.

Blaze has been an unlikely ambassador for the Church, touching people beyond St. Dorothy’s.

“I’ve had some people say, ‘This brought me back to church.’ Blaze is evangelizing without knowing he’s evangelizing,” the pastor said. “God is loving them through the dog.”

Many posts are of Blaze at the Jersey Shore, their happy place. Fr. Murphy said he’s always loved nature and being by the water, observing birds overhead and marveling at magnificent sunrises and sunsets.

The shore is serene, he said, particularly during the winter months after the crowds have departed for the season.

“It’s so peaceful and calming. The fresh sea air is invigorating,” he said. “And I find myself closer to God.”

Father Murphy and his friend Father Michael A. Colagreco, pastor of St. Anastasia Parish in Newtown Square, will retire together at a house near the shore that they bought 30 years ago in Sea Isle City – on the bay side, Father Murphy emphasized.

After two recent knee replacement surgeries, he knows it’s time to retire. He’ll miss St. Dorothy’s “immensely” and is glad to continue his priestly ministry in retirement.

The two retired priests will help with the Mass schedule at St. Joseph Parish in Sea Isle City. “I am not giving up the priesthood,” Father Murphy said. “I am giving up the administration.”

Once he’s officially retired, he’ll cease posting on St. Dot’s Facebook page and expects to document “Blaze and Sage at the Shore” — Sage is Father Colagreco’s golden retriever — on an alternative social media site.

A newly installed memorial plaque honors Prince, Duke, and Bear, the late canine companions of retiring pastor Father Michael Murphy, on the grounds of St. Dorothy Parish.

In the meantime, a memorial plaque is being installed on the St. Dorothy grounds with the words: “Dog is God spelled backwards. In loving memory of Prince, Duke, and Bear who brought God’s love to so many at the Jewel.”

Father Murphy refers to the parish as the Jewel of Delaware County. “It just shines so brightly,” he explained. “It’s not only pristine physically, but so many people are involved in ministry that God’s love shines through in what they do.”

Leave it to Blaze to announce Father Murphy’s successor on Facebook.

“Father Brian Kean just called my dad. He is assistant clergy director for our Archdiocese. Archbishop Pérez met with my dad’s successor and has appointed Msgr. Joseph Prior as the new pastor.”

Msgr. Prior is the former pastor at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Penndel. Incidentally, he does not have a dog.