Death of Columban Fr Otto Imholte

 

Fr Otto Imholte

3 January 1937 - 25 July 2022

This obituary was posted originally here. I have made some minor editorial changes.

Father Otto passed away due to several health complications in Hope Health Hulitar Hospice, in Providence, Rhode Island, on July 25, 2022. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 1, 2022 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Leigh, Nebraska with Fr Steve Emanuel celebrating. Burial will take place in St Mary’s Catholic Cemetery with lunch following in the church social hall. Visitation will be on Sunday, from 4 until 5 p.m. with a parish rosary recited at 5 p.m. Memorials can be directed towards the Columban Fathers or the Leigh Legacy Fund. Svoboda Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Father Otto’s family would like to offer a sincere thank you to Columban Fathers for all of their care and assistance as well as thank the doctors and nurses at Rhode Island Hospital and the Hospice House. A special thank you to Pam Serbst and Ann Leary at the Bristol Home and their time with Father Otto.

Fr Otto Imholte was born on January 3, 1937 in Leigh, Nebraska, USA. His parents were Urban J. and Frieda A. Wullschleger Imholte. His elementary and high school education were in Leigh.

His seminary formation with the Columbans began with Spiritual Year in September 1957 in Bristol, Rhode Island. The following year he entered the Columban major seminary in Milton, Massachusetts. In September 1960 he continued his studies at the Columban seminary at Dalgan Park, Navan, Ireland. He returned to Milton in September 1963 and was ordained on December 21, 1963, at the Major Seminary Chapel by Richard Cardinal Cushing.

In September 1964 he joined the teaching staff at the Columban Minor Seminary in Silver Creek, New York. Starting in July 1966 he began to attend Villanova University where he received a Master’s degree in Mathematics. In July 1967 he returned to Silver Creek as Dean and a member of the house council. In May 1968 he was appointed Socius (assistant) for Spiritual Year at Bristol.

In July 1970 he was assigned to Fiji where he served at the parish in Varoka, Ba. In June 1974 he returned to the US on vacation a little ahead of time because of the serious illness of his mother. He worked in South Sioux City at St Michael’s Parish until May 1975. He then returned to Fiji.  He was the Principal of Corpus Christi Teachers Training College in Suva from 1977-1978.In June 1984 he was named Regional Bursar in Fiji. The next January Father Otto was appointed to Xavier College along with his other duties as regional bursar and member in charge of local applicants.

In 1985 he returned to the United States and began working as a chaplain in a hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. He was appointed Assistant Regional Bursar effective in September 1987. In March 1989 he became the Regional Bursar. Fr. Otto was praised for his years of service as Regional Bursar for his efficiency in computerizing that office and for his help to other regions.

In September 1997 Father Otto began a sabbatical (which included a trip to the Holy Land) at the Chicago Theological Union and resided at the Drexel formation house. In September 1998 he became bursar at the new Columban International Theologate in Chicago.

In April 2001 Father Otto took on the responsibility of Bursar General of the Columbans, resident in Ireland. He served in that position with praise for his expertise and dedication during two administrations until Fr Paul Oxley took over.

After returning to the United States he took up residence at the regional house in St Columbans, Omaha. There he coordinated the mission appeals program. He also assisted the Regional Bursar Dan Eminger with some tasks. During this time he had to deal with serious health issues. In October 2019 worsening conditions led to his going to seek further care with the Columbans in Bristol, Rhode Island.

No matter where Father Otto was stationed, he was a Nebraska Cornhuskers fan through and through. He was always able to come up with the latest scores and stay up to date.

He is survived by his sister Eileen (Frank) Paulus, sister-in-law Alice Imholte, many nieces and nephews, and many Columban brothers.

Fr. Otto is preceded in death by his parents, brother Urban P. Imholte and sister Noreen (O’Del) Marchant.

+++

While working in the USA and in Ireland Father Otto was very involved in Worldwide Marriage Encounter. He told couples in Ireland, where he was a team priest in giving Marriage Encounter Weekends for around 11 years, Your love for one another sustains me in my priesthood. The movement promotes the two sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders.

May Father Otto rest in peace.

Leigh, Nebraska

[Wikipedia; photo]

Leigh is a village with around 400 people and is located in the farming area where Father Otto grew up.

Death of Columban Fr William G. Moran

 

Fr William Gerard Moran

14 May 1936 - 8 July 2022

William Gerard Moran was born 14 May 1936, at Flemington, Victoria, Australia, not far from the Flemington racecourse, home of the Melbourne Cup. This led to a lifelong interest in horse-racing. After primary and secondary schooling, Bill worked for two years with the Commonwealth Public Service while doing part-time studies in Latin and Economics.

In 1955 he came to Essendon [a suburb of Melbourne where the Columban headquarters in Australia are located] for Spiritual Year and then moved to our seminary in Sydney for Philosophy and Theology studies. Following his ordination at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, in 1961, he was appointed to Rome where he studied and graduated with an STL from the Angelicum. He then began studies in Scripture but had to abandon them because of health problems.

Appointed to the ANZ [Australia and New Zealand] Region, he worked for three years in the Far East Office before an appointment to the seminary in Turramurra [near Sydney] where he taught Dogma and served as Vice-Rector and Rector. In 1979 Bill was appointed to South America where he worked mostly in Chile in various capacities until an appointment back to ANZ in 1988. He served as ANZ Regional Director from 1990 to 1994. 

He returned to Chile but again health problems forced an early return to ANZ where he served as Regional Bursar for a number of years until his retirement. In recent years the success of his grandnephew as an Australian Rules footballer with the Footscray Bulldogs gave him new life and much pride. Bill died 8 July in St Vincent’s Hospital after a period of respite at Mercy Place Aged Care, Melbourne. The word I would choose to best sum up Bill is 'conscientious'.

Fr Ray Scanlon

May Father Bill rest in peace.

 

Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton North

[Wikipedia; photo]

There is a Columban plot in Carlton Cemetery.

Columban Fr Seán F. Doherty RIP

Fr Seán F. Doherty

22 March 1935 - 21 October 2018

Fr Seán F. Doherty was born on 22 March 1935 in Knockagulla, Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, Ireland. He was educated at Rathbane National School, Lisdoonvarna, and St Mary’s College, Galway. He entered St Columban’s, Dalgan Park, Navan, in September 1953 and  was ordained priest on 21 December 1959.

Lisdoonvarna Main Street [Wikipedia]

Father Seán was assigned to Korea and after initial language studies he served as assistant on Heuksando (Heuksan Island), then in Jang Seung and later in Muan - all in the southern Diocese of Kwangju. On returning to Korea after his first home visit to Ireland in 1967, he served as pastor in Shin Chang, on Cheju Island, and later in Tjang Heung in Chollanamdo Province.

Heuksando, Korea [Wikipedia]

In May 1971 he returned to Ireland. Over the next four years he did supply work in a variety of locations: in Glengormley Parish, Belfast in the Diocese of Down and Connor,  in Killavil, Cloonloo and Foxford in the Diocese of Achonry, and in Castleisland in the Diocese of Kerry.

There followed a further four years in Korea, from 1975 to 1979 serving as pastor in Hwa Sun near Kwangju. Returning to Ireland, he served as chaplain to the Sisters of Charity in Donnybrook and spent periods in the Cathedral in Monaghan; in Beleek, County Fermanagh; in the Cathedral in Newry; in Latton, County Monaghan; in Dromard, Skryne, Killala; in Scotshouse, County Monaghan, in Lahinch, County Clare, and in Belcoo, County Fermanagh.

Finner Camp in the distance [Wikipedia]

In between these many assignments he spent six months with the Irish Army at the Curragh, County Kildare; a summer as temporary chaplain to the US Army in Frankfurt, Germany; six month with the Irish Air Corps in Gormanston, County Meath; and a two-year period with the Irish Army at Finner, County Donegal. Father Seán had a particular gift for working with men and seemed to have enjoyed these assignments.

He was very intelligent, well-read, and with a wide range of interests. It could be said that he did not suffer fools gladly, but he was also a very kind person. He had to suffer long bouts of illness during the course of his life and particularly in his final years.

He is buried in St Columban's Cemetery, Dalgan Park.

May he rest in peace.

Crucifix, St Columan's Cemetery, Dalgan Park

Quick March of the Defence Forces Ireland

The logo is that of the Defence Forces

Columban Fr Robert O'Rourke RIP

Fr Robert I. O'Rourke

13 June 1932 - 3 October 2018

Fr Robert I. O’Rourke died on 3 October 2018 at St Elizabeth Manor, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA. Born on 13 June 1932 he was the son of the late Eugene Joseph O’Rourke and Mary Bridget (O'Connor) O’Rourke. He was the brother of the late Joseph, Timothy, Richard, Eugene, Br Terrance O’Rourke of Glenmary Home Missions, Margaret Baffoe and Loretta Coogan.  He is survived by many nieces and nephews. 

Chapel of St James

Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Chicago [Wikipedia]

Young Bob attended St Ailbe's Grade School and Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Chicago. He later attended St. Mary of the Lake Seminary and after spiritual year at St Columban's,, Silver Creek, New York,  he went to St Columban's Major Seminary in Milton, Massachusetts.  He was ordained on 20 December 20, 1958 in the Seminary Chapel by Bishop Eric MacKenzie, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston.

In the summer of 1959 Father Bob did a course in Social Science in Antigonish, Nova Scotia and in December 1959 he was appointed to Burma (now Myanmar).

St Columban's Cathedral, Myitkyina, Myanmar [Wikipedia]

In November 1962 he arrived in Myitkyina and began language study in Tingsing. The following November Father Bob was assistant in Makawkzup in the Myitkyina diocese and in October 1965 he opened up a new parish in Kamaing about 65 miles west of Myitkyina.  In September 1966 the Burmese government compelled Father Bob to leave Burma before the end of that year due to new visa restrictions.

After returning to the United States he was appointed to do vocation work in Los Angeles in March 1967. He was appointed superior of the Los Angeles house in 1969.

In 1975 Father Bob was assigned to Lima Peru. Starting in May 1977 he began serving in Tahuantinsuyo where there was a charismatic ministry, youth groups and a catechumenate.  In December 1983 he was assigned to Huasahuasi.

Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Lima, Peru [Wikipedia]

Fr Bob O’Rourke and Fr Michael Donnelly were the first resident priests in the parish for some time. Until leaving there in December1989, they worked a pastoral programme catering to the varied needs of the widespread parish. The majority of the people were potato farmers. During those years Tarma and adjoining areas were the scene of escalating terrorist violence on the part of the Maoist- Leninist group Sendero Luminoso, 'The Shining Path'. Many towns were without police or other civil authority. Fathers Bob and Michael continued to carry out their pastoral work while the terrorists became more audacious and brutal, generating an atmosphere of fear and tension throughout the country, especially in isolated zones such as Huasahuasi. When the priests were told by a reliable person that they were on a death-list and that the terrorists were coming to the town at Christmas, Fathers Bob and Michael prudently decided to go to Lima and left within days for their respective countries where they recuperated from the stress.

In January 1990 Father Bob was assigned to US Region of the Columbans. He became associate editor of Columban Mission magazine and at Easter 1991 he became Editor of the Regional Newsletter.

In August 1992 Father Bob began work with the Spanish Apostolate at Immaculate Conception Church in Grand Prairie, Texas. The people there appreciated his homilies for their stories and brevity. In 1998 he returned to Omaha as house bursar and presided over the 47th and final Annual Columban Festival there.  The Festival was the last of a successful cycle that at its peak, in the early 1970s, drew over 20,000 people to St Columban’s on a summer weekend and raised over $80,000 for the Society.  Father Bob noted that the Festival was less about funding than connecting with the local community. In October 2001 he was elected as Chairman of the Regional Reconciliation Board.

Father Bob retired to St Columban's, Bristol, Rhode Island, in March, 2004 where he resided in retirement, participating actively in community life for the last 14 years.

Fr O'Rourke was buried in St Mary's Cemetery, Bristol, RI, after the funeral Mass in the chapel at St Columban's. May he rest in peace.

St Columban, Bristol, RI, USA

Fr Bob O'Rourke served in Peru from 1975 till 1989.

Columban Fr Gerard Dunn RIP

Fr Gerard Dunn

15 December 1937 - 24 September 2018

With the passing of Fr Gerard (Gerry) Dunn on 24 September 2018 the Region of Britain of the Columbans lost one of its most memorable characters.

Father Gerry was born on 15 December 1937 to a well-known Catholic family in Glasgow which had a mineral water business. He very much remained a Glaswegian at heart and in later years delighted in showing his fellow Columbans around his native city.

St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow [Wikipedia]

After his early education, Father Gerry followed his father into the medical profession.

Having qualified and practiced as a doctor in Glasgow for a relatively short time, he decided to embark on a different kind of healing ministry – as a Columban missionary priest.

He went to St Columban's, Dalgan Park, County Meath, Ireland, in 1962 and was ordained on 21 December 1967.  Because of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Britain that year, ordinations did not take place in Dalgan Park, which has a farm attached to it, because of strict Irish quarantine laws. So Father Gerry became the first and only Columban to be ordained on Scottish soil.

After ordination Father Gerry was assigned to Korea.

Within a few years he returned home in poor health and spent the remainder of his Columban life and ministry in Scotland, having ministered for a short time in a parish in Birmingham, England.

Legion of Mary altar [Wikipedia]

He engaged in mission awareness ministry, but gradually focused more and more on other ministries, such as promoting the Legion of Mary, leading pilgrimages to various shrines, and ministering to the small Chinese Catholic community in Glasgow. He learned enough Chinese to be able to celebrate Mass in that language.

St Patrick's Purgatory, Lough Derg, Ireland [Wikipedia]

Lough Derg is one of the places where Father Gerry regularly led pilgrimages from Glasgow.

When the Columban house in Glasgow closed in 2005 Father Gerry along with Fr Declan McNaughton, moved into the presbytery of St Gregory Barbarigo parish in Glasgow as the base for their continuing ministries.

The priests and people of the parish were very welcoming and supportive. Among the many ways Father Gerry endeared himself to the people in the parish was his preparation and distribution of large quantities of nutritious soup.

Father Gerry will be remembered as a lively conversationalist, witty storyteller and entertaining singer. He will also be remembered for his fearless promotion of the teaching of the Church as he understood it. Conversations with him tended to be blend of serious discussion on some controversial issue and frequent amusing anecdotes.

Father Gerry was a wounded healer who courageously coped with poor health for many years in a spirit of great faith.

In 2013 he retired to Nazareth House in Glasgow which is where he died. A large congregation attended his Funeral Mass in the Nursing Home Chapel on 28 September 2018.

Father Gerry’s nephew, Fr Stephen Dunn, was the principal concelebrant and was joined by more than twenty priests, including five Columbans. In his homily, Fr Dan Horgan, on behalf of the Columbans, thanked the Dunn family and others for the great care Father Gerry received and also spoke of his unique gifts and admirable faith.

Father Gerry was buried with his parents in St Peter's Cemetery, also known as Dalbeth Cemetery, Glasgow.

May he rest in peace.

Dalbeth Cemetery [Source]

A Personal Note

Father Gerry joined the Columbans a year after me but joined our class for theology in 1964. I lived with him for five months in Glasgow in 2002 while on a two-year assignment in Britain. I found to be true what the late Columban Fr Con Campion once said to me - he had lived with Father Gerry for some years in our Glasgow house - that there wasn't a kinder Columban. Before and after his funeral Mass I was chatting with persons who had known him and they all mentioned the great influence he had on their lives.

He had a great sense of humour and there was no one better to tell jokes about 'thrifty' Scotsmen. He was also a good singer. He had a number of songs in his repertoire but his favourite was A Scottish Soldier, written in 1960 by the late Andy Stewart who sings it here.

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country (Luke 1:39).

May our Blessed Mother, whom Father Gerry loved so dearly all his life, lead him to the hills of home.

Columban Fr Thomas J. Vaughan RIP

Fr Thomas J. Vaughan

20 February 1928 - 13 September 2018

Fr Thomas J. Vaughan died peacefully on 13 September 2018 at St. Elizabeth Manor, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA.

Cathedral of St Paul, Saint Paul, MN [Wikipedia]

Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, he was the son the late Patrick and Kathleen (Fuller) Vaughan. He is survived his sister Loretta Gallagher as well as many nieces, nephews, friends and brother priests. He was also the brother of the late Patrick Vaughan, Muriel Vaughan, Donna Marie Smith, Richard Vaughan, Jerome Vaughan, Mary Alice Vaughan,and Delores Gibbons.

Cretin-Derham High School, Saint Paul [Wikipedia]

[Cretin High School and Derham Hall amalgamated in 1987]

Fr Vaughan was a graduate of Cretin High School, Saint Paul, and then served in the US Army. He went on to graduate from the College of St Thomas before joining the Society of Saint Columban and was ordained in 1956. He served mainly in the Philippines but also in Belize, Chicago and Saint Paul.

National Shrine of Our Lady of Poon Bato, Botolan, Zambales, Philippines [Wikipedia]

May Father Tom rest in peace.

Cathedral of St Paul, Saint Paul, MN

Columban Fr Joseph McSweeney RIP

Fr Joseph Jeremiah McSweeney

(14 March 1933 – 13 September 2018)

Fr Joseph J. McSweeney was born on 14 March 1933 in Bealick, Macroom, County Cork, Ireland. His parents were Jeremiah and Ellen Long McSweeney. He is survived by his brothers Daniel McSweeney and his wife Ann in Ireland, Peter McSweeney and his wife Mary oinCanada and many nieces and nephews.  He was the brother of the late Patrick, Timmy, John, and Tommy McSweeney.

Bealick Mill, Macroom [Wikipedia]

His primary education was at the National School, Macroom from 1940 to 1946. His secondary schooling was at De La Salle College, Macroom, from 1946 to 1952.

He entered St Columban's Seminary, Dalgan Park, Navan, County Meath, in September 1952. Bishop John Kyne of Meath ordained him to the priesthood on 21 December 1958.

In January 1959 Father Joe was appointed to Korea and began language studies toward the end of that year in Seoul. In June 1960 he was appointed to Chuncheon Vicariate as assistant in St Patrick's parish, Soyangro, Chuncheon. November 1961 saw him as assistant in the Cathedral parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Chuncheon. 

Seoyang Bridge over Seoyang River, Chuncheon [Wikipedia]

In November 1962 he returned as assistant in St Patrick's parish, Chuncheon. In August 1962 he began an advanced language course in Seoul. In August 1964 he went to Samcheok as assistant. In June 1965 Samcheok became part of the new diocese of Wonju. He continued as assistant there until he went on vacation in November 1965. 

In November 1966 he became pastor of the new parish of Whangji in the Diocese of Womju. In October 1968 he began a catechetical course in the Philippines. From 1969 to 1971 he was pastor in Samcheok, Wonju diocese.

Samcheok [Wikipedia]

After vacation, in July 1971, he was assigned to the US Region for promotion work out of the Columban house in Milton, Massachusetts. In November 1973 he was transferred for promotion work to St Columban's, Bayside, Queen's, New York City. He began a renewal course in Maryknoll in January 1981. After the course he returned to the Bayside house. 

Father Joe went with the move of the Columban house in Bayside to Kew Gardens, also in Queens. In addition to his promotion work , he celebrated Mass every Friday at a local nursing home. He became involved with a local prayer group and assisted at Pre-Cana Conferences. He also helped out at times with youth group activities in the Korean parish in Chicago.  In June 1990, he became Vicar at the Kew Gardens house. After the late Fr Ernie Sullivan left the Kew Gardens house in the autumn of 1991, Father Joe became the Superior there until he went to St Columban's, Bristol, Rhode Island, in the spring of 1992.

Statue of St Columban

St Columban's, Bristol, RI, USA

He was appointed to do Mission Education and Promotion.  He helped throughout Rhode Island in many parishes, schools and religious communities including the Rhode Island Korean Catholic Community.  Father Joe had a special love for the poor and was always reaching out to those in need. 

The annual Columban Festival in Bristol has been going on for over 70 years.  Each year Father Joe would set up a Mission Booth there and could be seen in colorful attire 'meeting and greeting one and all'.

There was nothing too unusual for Father Joe. One day he gathered many motorcycles at our Bristol residence for a blessing ceremony.  Another time he participated in a blessing of the Mount Hope Bridge which connects Bristol to Portsmouth and Newport.

Mount Hope Bridge, Rhode Island [Wikipedia]

Father Joe enjoyed visiting and going out for meals with his friends and Columbans.  But as his health declined, he travelled less and less and spent more time in our residence.  He took up painting and enjoyed it.  He lived in our residence until April 2018 when he went to St Elizabeth Nursing Home in Bristol.

He passed peacefully to the Lord on Thursday, 13 September 2018. May he rest in peace.

Ubi Caritas

Setting by Ola Gjeilo (born 1978, Norway)

Pilgrim Mission Choir, Korea

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero. (Latin)

Where charity and love are, God is there.
Christ’s love has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

Columban Fr Roderick Long RIP

Fr John Roderick Long

(13 November 1934 - 14 September 2018)

Fr John Roderick ('Derrick') Long was born in Dublin on 13 November 1934. He was educated at the Convent of Mercy, Loughrea, County Galway, St Brendan’s National School, Loughrea, and St Joseph’s College, Garbally Park, Ballinasloe. He entered St Columban's College, Dalgan Park, Navan, County Meath, in September 1953 and was ordained priest on 21 December 1959.

St Brendan's Cathedral, Loughrea [Wikipedia]

Father Derrick’s first appointment was to Burma (now Myanmar), but while he awaited a visa he served as temporary dean at the Templeogue house of studies in Dublin. When his visa came through, he left for Burma in October 1962. There he worked with Fr Jim Fisher as the latter ran a procure in Rangoon (now Yangon) for various Catholic groups working in Burma. However, Father Derrick was expelled from there in 1966 when the military government put further restrictions on missionaries.

Market in Downtown Yangon [Wikipedia]

His next appoinment was to the Philippines where he served from 1967 to 1995. He was part of the Columban group who served in the Dioceses of Lingayen/Alaminos. So at various times he served in Sual, Labrador and in the sub-parishes of Lingayen. A serious, determined pastor, he is remembered as a frequent visitor to all the families in his various assignments.

San Pedro Martir Parish Church, Sual [Wikipedia]

There followed an appointment to mission promotion in Australia. He served in Perth from 1995 to 1998, and then in Brisbane from 1998 to 2006. Mission promotion work involved visiting more than two hundred parishes to preach at Sunday Masses and visit Columban supporters. After 2006 he spent the next five years in semi-retirement in Brisbane while always willing to help out in neighbouring parishes.

Sandgate Town Hall [Wikipedia]

Sandgate is the suburb of Brisbane where the Columban house is located.

Father Derrick was a shy person but constantly overcame that shyness to fulfil his missionary tasks. As his health began to fail he returned to Ireland in 2011, was confined to the St Columban’s Retirement Home from early January 2015, and he died there on 13th September.

May he rest in peace.

Obituary by Fr Cyril Lovett

Crucifix, Dalgan Park Cemetery

Salve, Regína, mater misericórdiae vita, dulcédo et spes nostra, salve Ad te clamámus, éxules fílii Evae. Ad te suspirámus, geméntes et flentes in hac lacrimárum valle. Eia ergo, advocáta nostra, illos tuos misericórdes óculos ad nos convérte. Et Jesum, benedíctum frucum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsílium osténde O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo María.