A funeral Mass for Msgr. John (“Jack”) Costello was celebrated March 31 at St. Peter Church in Kirkwood. Msgr. Costello died March 27 in St. Louis. He was 76 years old and would have celebrated his 50th anniversary to the priesthood in May.
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to John and Catherine Costello, he attended St. Louis Prep Seminary South, Cardinal Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 20, 1972, by Cardinal John J. Carberry.
Msgr. Costello served as associate pastor at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Crestwood from 1972-77, St. Lucy in Jennings from 1977-80, St. Blaise in Maryland Heights from 1980-84, and part-time associate pastor at St. Peter in Kirkwood from 1984-88. He also was named associate pastor of Holy Family Parish in St. Louis in 1993.
In 1980, Msgr. Costello was appointed director of the archdiocesan Permanent Diaconate program.
He served as pastor at several parishes, including Holy Cross in St. Louis from 1988-93, St. Francis Borgia in Washington from 1994-2005 and St. Peter in Kirkwood from 2005 until his retirement in 2021. In 2016, he received the “Lead. Learn. Proclaim.” Award from the National Catholic Educational Association for his efforts on behalf of Catholic school education.
Burial was in St. Peter Cemetery in Kirkwood.
