Submitted by: Dan Rich

Rev. John Francis Lahey CSC

Sept. 9, 1943 -- Jan. 28, 2006

South Bend Tribune 1/31/2006

Rev. John Francis Lahey, C.S.C., died at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN, January 28, 2006, due to poor health. He was 62 years old.

Fr. Lahey was born to Michael and Patricia Lahey on September 9, 1943, in LaPorte, Indiana. He attended St. Joseph grade school in LaPorte and upon graduating from 8th grade, entered Holy Cross Seminary in the late summer of 1957 and graduated in June 1961.

He entered Sacred Heart Novitiate on August 15 of that year and made first profession one year and one day later. He returned to Moreau Seminary for his college education. During his later years as an undergraduate at Notre Dame he left Holy Cross. Fr. Lahey graduated in January 1966 with a degree in philosophy.

In March of that same year, he re-entered the novitiate in Jordan, MN, and professed vows the following September 2nd. Fr. Lahey then began his studies in theology at Holy Cross College in Washington, D.C. Two years later, in 1968, when the program moved to Notre Dame, he came back to campus and earned his master's in theology degree in June 1969.

He made final vows December 29, 1969. On February 7, 1970, he was ordained a deacon and was ordained to the priesthood on April 4, 1970, in Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame.

Fr. Lahey's first assignment was as a teacher of theology at Stonehill College of North Easton, MA, for one year. In 1971 he left Stonehill for a year of study at Vanderbilt followed by two years of study in pastoral counseling at Andover-Newton Theological School in Massachusetts.

For one year, 1974-75, he taught at Notre Dame and then moved to Fatima Retreat House to assist in retreats. The next year he was named director of the Pastoral Counseling Center at Fatima, a position he held for two years until 1978.

For the next four years he attended classes at Catholic University in Washington studying canon law. In 1982 he returned to Notre Dame where he resided in residence halls and taught theology at Notre Dame. He was a very popular undergraduate teacher and was well-received as a teacher on the graduate level in canon law.

In 1996 Fr. Lahey was appointed superior at Moreau Seminary but had to leave in 1998 due to poor health. He moved to Holy Cross House as he regained his health. In 2000 he returned to Notre Dame, residing in Corby Hall and resumed teaching at the university.

He moved back to Holy Cross House in January 2001 in order to receive further care for his deteriorating condition. He lived there until his death.

Fr. John Lahey was a remarkably gifted man. He was a master story-teller, mimic and humorist. He incorporated all these gifts as well as his great theological background and intellect when he preached. His homilies, as well as his classroom lectures, were well-done, well-delivered and well-received. We will miss him greatly.

Fr. Lahey is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Bill Neis of San Diego, a niece and several nephews. He is also survived by an aunt, Ruth Willemin of South Bend, IN. He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Patricia Lahey, and by a brother.

Viewing will be held for Fr. Lahey in the chapel of Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, Indiana, on Wednesday, February 1st, from 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a wake service at 7:30 p.m.