On January 7, 1948, Father John Henry Sullivan, CSP, died in Boston at the page of 65 after 34 years as a Paulist priest. Born on February 11, 1882, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, he attended local parochial schools and graduated from Boston College in 1903. Citing his urge to become a missionary, he entered the Paulist Society in 1909. He was professed on December 17, 1912, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 17, 1913.
Despite his missionary zeal, Fr Sullivan spent much of his career in parish service, mostly in New York. During the teens, he served as curate at the parish of St. Paul the Apostle and Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. For much of the early 1920s he served as Procurator at St. Peter's parish in Toronto, and in 1923 returned to New York as an assistant in the parish.
In 1934 he was appointed Rector of Old St. Mary's parish in Chicago by Superior General Fr John B. Harney. In 1940 he moved back East to become Superior at Good Shepherd parish in New York. Besides routine parish duties, Fr Sullivan took charge of overseeing the activities of the local youth. Young girls were involved in the Girl Scouts and young boys were enrolled in cadet and band activities. He also provided the older kids with an opportunity to be involved in organized sports such as baseball and basketall and was active with local Newman Clubs.
His health began to deteriorate in 1946 and he was forced to resign from Good Shepherd to become assistant novice master at Oak Ridge, New Jersey. He contracted pneumonia while serving as Procurator at the Catholic Information Center on Park Street in Boston, and died suddenly in the first days of 1948.
A much-loved parish leader and a genial, popular Paulist priest, Fr Sullivan was remembered by one of his converts shortly after his death: "Father Sullivan instructed and baptized me and, by his letters, continued to direct me in my growth in the faith. I saved and treasured those letters and have been guided by them through the years. I owe him ever so much more than I can say. In his death, many like myself have lost a kind, understanding spiritual father."
Despite his missionary zeal, Fr Sullivan spent much of his career in parish service, mostly in New York. During the teens, he served as curate at the parish of St. Paul the Apostle and Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. For much of the early 1920s he served as Procurator at St. Peter's parish in Toronto, and in 1923 returned to New York as an assistant in the parish.
In 1934 he was appointed Rector of Old St. Mary's parish in Chicago by Superior General Fr John B. Harney. In 1940 he moved back East to become Superior at Good Shepherd parish in New York. Besides routine parish duties, Fr Sullivan took charge of overseeing the activities of the local youth. Young girls were involved in the Girl Scouts and young boys were enrolled in cadet and band activities. He also provided the older kids with an opportunity to be involved in organized sports such as baseball and basketall and was active with local Newman Clubs.
His health began to deteriorate in 1946 and he was forced to resign from Good Shepherd to become assistant novice master at Oak Ridge, New Jersey. He contracted pneumonia while serving as Procurator at the Catholic Information Center on Park Street in Boston, and died suddenly in the first days of 1948.
A much-loved parish leader and a genial, popular Paulist priest, Fr Sullivan was remembered by one of his converts shortly after his death: "Father Sullivan instructed and baptized me and, by his letters, continued to direct me in my growth in the faith. I saved and treasured those letters and have been guided by them through the years. I owe him ever so much more than I can say. In his death, many like myself have lost a kind, understanding spiritual father."
On January 7, 1948, Father John Henry Sullivan, CSP, died in Boston at the page of 65 after 34 years as a Paulist priest. Born on February 11, 1882, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, he attended local parochial schools and graduated from Boston College in 1903. Citing his urge to become a missionary, he entered the Paulist Society in 1909. He was professed on December 17, 1912, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 17, 1913.
Despite his missionary zeal, Fr Sullivan spent much of his career in parish service, mostly in New York. During the teens, he served as curate at the parish of St. Paul the Apostle and Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. For much of the early 1920s he served as Procurator at St. Peter's parish in Toronto, and in 1923 returned to New York as an assistant in the parish.
In 1934 he was appointed Rector of Old St. Mary's parish in Chicago by Superior General Fr John B. Harney. In 1940 he moved back East to become Superior at Good Shepherd parish in New York. Besides routine parish duties, Fr Sullivan took charge of overseeing the activities of the local youth. Young girls were involved in the Girl Scouts and young boys were enrolled in cadet and band activities. He also provided the older kids with an opportunity to be involved in organized sports such as baseball and basketall and was active with local Newman Clubs.
His health began to deteriorate in 1946 and he was forced to resign from Good Shepherd to become assistant novice master at Oak Ridge, New Jersey. He contracted pneumonia while serving as Procurator at the Catholic Information Center on Park Street in Boston, and died suddenly in the first days of 1948.
A much-loved parish leader and a genial, popular Paulist priest, Fr Sullivan was remembered by one of his converts shortly after his death: "Father Sullivan instructed and baptized me and, by his letters, continued to direct me in my growth in the faith. I saved and treasured those letters and have been guided by them through the years. I owe him ever so much more than I can say. In his death, many like myself have lost a kind, understanding spiritual father."
Despite his missionary zeal, Fr Sullivan spent much of his career in parish service, mostly in New York. During the teens, he served as curate at the parish of St. Paul the Apostle and Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. For much of the early 1920s he served as Procurator at St. Peter's parish in Toronto, and in 1923 returned to New York as an assistant in the parish.
In 1934 he was appointed Rector of Old St. Mary's parish in Chicago by Superior General Fr John B. Harney. In 1940 he moved back East to become Superior at Good Shepherd parish in New York. Besides routine parish duties, Fr Sullivan took charge of overseeing the activities of the local youth. Young girls were involved in the Girl Scouts and young boys were enrolled in cadet and band activities. He also provided the older kids with an opportunity to be involved in organized sports such as baseball and basketall and was active with local Newman Clubs.
His health began to deteriorate in 1946 and he was forced to resign from Good Shepherd to become assistant novice master at Oak Ridge, New Jersey. He contracted pneumonia while serving as Procurator at the Catholic Information Center on Park Street in Boston, and died suddenly in the first days of 1948.
A much-loved parish leader and a genial, popular Paulist priest, Fr Sullivan was remembered by one of his converts shortly after his death: "Father Sullivan instructed and baptized me and, by his letters, continued to direct me in my growth in the faith. I saved and treasured those letters and have been guided by them through the years. I owe him ever so much more than I can say. In his death, many like myself have lost a kind, understanding spiritual father."
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
