Obituaries
Our Deceased
Deceased TransCanada Spiritans (Alphabetical)
Deceased TransCanada Spiritans (Necrology)
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
(1 Corinthians 15:55)
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FR. PATRICK FITZPATRICK (Pat) of the Spiritan Province of TransCanada died peacefully in the early morning hours of December 7th, 2023. Fr. Pat was predeceased by his parents, Sean and Mary (nee O’Brien) and his only brother, Brian. He is survived by distant family members and close friends in Ireland, the United States and Canada.
Fr. Pat was born on September 21, 1934 in Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland. He made his first profession of vows as a Spiritan on September 8, 1953 and was ordained to the priesthood on July 14, 1963. During his 70 years of Religious Life and his 60 years as a priest, Fr. Pat made many important contributions to Catholic education in Ontario and to the life of the Spiritan Province of TransCanada, as well as positively impacting the lives of innumerable people with his gentle, thoughtful pastoral care.
Deep peace of the running wave to you…
First assigned to Canada in 1964, Fr. Pat taught at Neil McNeil High School where he headed the Religion department while also serving as the Spiritan Formation Director. In 1980, Fr. Pat joined the Catholic Teachers’ Centre of the Metropolitan Separate School Board. In 1991, Fr. Pat returned to Neil McNeil High School as Chaplain and later served as the Adult Faith Consultant for the Dufferin Peel Roman Catholic School Board until his “retirement” in 1999.
From the time of his official “retirement,” Fr. Pat worked actively in service of the Spiritan community, and in various pastoral ministries in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Fr. Pat served as Laval House Superior, as a member of several Provincial Councils and he dutifully served 6 years as Provincial Superior of the TransCanada Spiritans. As Provincial Superior, Fr. Pat was one of the founding members of Joint Apostolic Ministries and its refugee outreach ministry, Becoming Neighbours. Since 2002, up until April this year (more than 21 years), Fr. Pat also served faithfully as Chaplain to the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association (OCSTA).
Fr. Pat will also be remembered for his award winning work as editor of the TransCanada missionary magazine, Spiritan from 1999 until just a couple of years before his death. For many years, Fr. Pat also touched the lives of many people through his morning Masses and homilies televised on Vision TV.
Fr. Pat was known for his strong interest in, and commitment to, Catholic education as well as to bringing an awareness of the missions to all. He will be missed by his Spiritan confreres, the education community in Ontario, the Irish community in Toronto and beyond, and his many, many friends in Canada, the USA and his native Ireland.
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Funeral arrangements for Fr. Pat Fitzpatrick:
Visitation:
Monday December 18 from 3:00-5:00 PM and from 7:00-9:00 PM (with Vigil prayer service at 8:00 PM).
O’Connor Funeral Home, 1939 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough, ON, M1R 2Y8.
Tuesday December 19 at 11:00 AM.
St. Joseph’s Church, 200 Morrish Road, Scarborough, ON, M1C 1E8.
The Mass will be followed by a light reception in the church hall.
Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Toronto at 2:30 PM.
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Fr. Dermot Doran, CSSp. 1934-2023
Photo courtesy of Fernando Lopez
I come not to be served but to serve… (Matthew 20:28)
FATHER MICHAEL (DERMOT) DORAN of the Spiritan Province of TransCanada died peacefully on May 19th, 2023. At the time Father Dermot was a resident of Kimmage Manor, Dublin, Ireland where he had resided since November 2008. He is predeceased by his parents, two brothers, Father Dermot is survived by his sister (England) and numerous nieces and nephews.
Father Dermot was born September 22, 1934 in Athboy, Ireland. He made his first profession as a Spiritan on September 8, 1952 and was ordained to the priesthood on July 16, 1961. During his 62 years as a priest, he served in a variety of educational, administrative and pastoral ministries in Nigeria, Portugal, United States and Canada.
First assigned to Nigeria, Father Dermot was involved in teaching and pastoral ministry from 1962 until 1968. It was then that Father Dermot went to Portugal to work as a relief organizer for the Joint Church Aid to Biafra. From there he moved to New York to work as a field officer for Catholic Relief Services.
In 1974 Father Dermot was assigned to Canada to head Spiritan Communications in Toronto and continued this work until 1983. In 1975, responding to an urgent need of the Spiritan Province, Father Dermot also became the director of Volunteer International Christian Service (VICS). Father Dermot served in this capacity for 26 years and was greatly appreciated by the hundreds of lay volunteers who left for the missions under his direction. Father Dermot also founded in 1991 Brottier Refugee Centre in Toronto that welcomed and provided housing for refugees coming to Canada. Father Dermot continued as director of this service until 2003.
In 2003 Father Dermot heard the call to return to pastoral ministry and he served for 4 years as pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Toronto. Following a sabbatical year and wishing to be closer to his family, Father Dermot then retired to the Irish Spiritan Retirement residence, Kimmage Manor, in Dublin.
Father Dermot was known for his simplicity of life, his open and welcoming spirit and his love for the missions. His Spiritan confreres, the many members of VICS who knew him so well and family and friends will miss him deeply.
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The Funeral mass will take place at the Kimmage Manor Church, Dublin
Burial will take place at the Spiritan Cemetery
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Fr. Gerald FitzGerald, CSSp 1932-2021
FATHER GERALD FITZGERALD (GERRY) of the Spiritan Province of TransCanada died unexpectedly on the night of September 4th, 2021 at Scarborough General Hospital. Father Gerry was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Margaret (ne McManus) and siblings, Desmond and Joan. He is survived by his sister Pamela, his sister-in law, Breda, as well as numerous nieces and nephews (Helen, Allison, Christine, Kenneth, Keith, Nigel, Susan, Gerald, Laetitia).
Father Gerry was born May 13, 1932 in Clonmel, Ireland. He made his first profession as a Spiritan on September 8, 1949, and did his philosophy and theology studies with the Spiritans at Kimmage in Dublin, followed by three years of prefecting in Port of Spain, Trinidad. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 10, 1960. During his 61 years as a priest Gerry made an important contribution to Catholic education in the city of Toronto.
First assigned to Canada in 1961, Father Gerry taught at Neil McNeil Catholic Secondary School where he became principal in 1975. In 1980 Father Gerry became the founding principal of Regina-Pacis Catholic Secondary School and in 1988 became principal of Marian Academy where he served until his retirement in 1991.
From the time of his retirement, Father Gerry worked actively in refugee work in the city of Toronto with Sacred Heart Village from 1991 until 2002. Also in his retirement years, Father Gerry served for several years as the co-editor of Spiritan Missionary News. Father Gerry gave many years of service to the Spiritan community serving as Provincial Bursar from 2002 to 2008. In declining health but always of good spirit, Father Gerry retired to the Houses of Providence in Toronto in 2010 and lived there until his passing.
Father Gerry was known for his strong interest in, and commitment to, Catholic education as well as refugee issues in Canada. Up until the end of his life, Father Gerry took a keen interest in all news, worldwide or local, and in the Spiritan congregation and our new initiatives and missions. He had a wonderful memory, was an avid conversationalist, story teller & communicator and maintained a large and diverse network of friends and colleagues. Father Gerry will be greatly missed by his Spiritan confreres, family and many friends.
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Visitation
Funeral Mass
Dr. DERMOT MCLOUGHLIN
Lay Spiritan
February 20th, 1935 - December 25th, 2020
McLoughlin, Diarmuid (Dermot) passed away peacefully in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. Born Feb. 20, 1935 in Dublin, Ireland, Dermot is survived by Deirdre McLoughlin, his best friend and wife of over 60 years, along with sons John, Barry (Mary), Dermot Paul, and Mark; grandchildren Christopher, Kristen, Moira, Barry Jr., and Heather; brothers Edward (Anne) McLoughlin and Michael (Colette) McLoughlin, and in-laws Geraldine (Mick) Egan and John (Teresa) Campbell. He was predeceased by his grandchildren Joel and Nathan Grant McLoughlin, and sister-in-law Maureen Campbell.
Dermot served as a doctor for over fifty years graduating from University College Dublin in 1958, proceeding to Nigeria where he was married in 1960 to Deirdre, also from Dublin. Following two years in Nigeria was a brief return to Ireland enroute to Glasgow where Dermot specialized in radiology. A foray to Canada in 1966 lasted much longer than the anticipated couple of years. Following a short time at Toronto General Hospital, the family relocated to Barrie where he started Georgian Radiology Consultants serving hospitals in Barrie, Midland, Penetang, and Collingwood. The family moved back to Toronto in 1975 where he worked one year in tropical medicine at Toronto General. Subsequently he assumed the role as chief of radiology (1976 – 1993) in the Chedoke Division of Chedoke-McMaster Hospital in Hamilton. During the entire period from 1976 to 2015, Dermot worked extensively at hospitals in Sioux Lookout first with weekly stints each month and then later full time from 1993 onwards culminating at the Meno Ya Win Health Centre. For several years he was also a regular visitor at Weeneebayko Hospital in Moose Factory. Much of Dermot’s time and energy was dedicated to northern medicine. His notable achievement of establishing a basic radiography program across Treaty 9 communities advanced regional healthcare. This was recognized in the awarding of an honourary doctorate at Lakehead University in 2013. He also received the Chris Cromarty Award in 2010.
Dermot’s faith was important to him. He and Deirdre were the first lay associates of the Spiritans in Canada. This commitment and his engagement with many initiatives around peace and social justice were critical components of his life story and contributed to the relocations along that path. Rugby, water sports, time at the cottage, camping and travel were among his other interests. He will be dearly missed by many.
Deirdre and family would like to take this opportunity to thank so many people for their kindness to us during Dermot’s illness and since his death on Christmas Day. To the staff and Dr. J. Morgan at the W.A. George Extended Care Unit in Sioux Lookout who made the last four years so comfortable for Dermot and so welcoming to us, to all who reached out since Christmas with phone calls, emails, cards, food, flowers and mass offerings, a big thank you. All were sincerely appreciated.
Cremation has taken place. Due to Covid-19 restrictions no service is scheduled. A memorial service will take place at a future date. In memory, donations may be made in Dermot’s memory to Doctors Without Borders through the Sioux Lookout Funeral Home, 128 Front Street, Box 1449, Sioux Lookout, Ontario, P8T 1B9.
From the Sioux Bulletin - January 19th, 2021
A reflection on Dermot by Fr. Paul McAuley, CSSp
Friday December 25th, 2020
Dear Confreres and friends,
With sadness, I wish to inform you that Dermot McLoughlin passed away today December 25th, Christmas Day, at 11:10 AM in the William George Extended Care centre in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. This is not an official obituary but just a notice and some of my reflections.
Dermot was born on February 20th, 1935 in Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland. He wanted to be a Spiritan priest, but God apparently had other plans and his life took a different and very interesting turn - he met Deirdre. Dermot and Deirdre went to Nigeria as “lay missionaries” and were married in 1960.
Eventually they found themselves in Canada and Dermot was still interested in the Spiritans. You may have heard the story of the chance meeting Dermot and Deirdre had with Fr. Mike Doyle around 1971? Deirdre bumped into Fr. Mike spilling coffee and thus followed a conversation about lay involvement with the Spiritans. One thing leading to another and a little Lay Spiritan group was founded in TransCanada, perhaps the first in the Spiritan Congregation.
In east Toronto on Lyall Avenue, the little Lay Spiritan community gathered weekly for prayers, reflections, sometimes Mass, and always for conversation. Many of us may remember those days.
Dermot was interested in the situation of First Nations peoples in Canada and in keeping with his sense of social justice, gospel values and his practice as a radiologist, he and Deirdre made the bold and brave move from Toronto to Sioux Lookout in northern Ontario. Our Lay Spiritans were now truly Lay missionaries.
From Sioux Lookout, where Dermot practiced as a medical doctor, he and Deirdre particularly reached out to the Mishkeegogamang First Nations people (Ojibway) just north of there in New Osnaburgh, Ontario. It was a tough start at first - liberal white do gooders vs. indigenous people suspicious of outsiders. Dermot did not give up. He and Deirdre kept quiet, kept visiting and kept listening and gradually a bond was formed.
The McLoughlin’s presence in Osnaburgh attracted the attention of others in our Spiritan family and quite a number of us, professed and Lay, journeyed north and spent some time with the wonderful people there.
Dermot was a godsend to northern Ontario and to the First Nations people since they have so little professional medical services available to them. Apart from general practice, as a radiologist he was able to train people in radiology and establish programmes in our far northern communities. I remember being with Dermot about 1984 in late May up in James Bay travelling by motorized canoe to Moose Factory - we were in a blizzard of snow but Dermot was undeterred. That’s Canada for you!
Dermot continued to practice as a doctor and radiologist in Sioux Lookout and the outlying First Nations communities of northern Ontario until just a few years ago when the Alzheimer’s disease set in. Eventually he had to go to nursing care and just very recently to palliative care and now he has gone this Christmas to God.
Our thoughts, prayers and love are with Deirdre and the McLoughlin family - sons, Barry, John, Mark, and Dermot-Paul. God works in funny ways...years ago, when I was 17, I was on a parish youth retreat in Georgetown. I had never heard of the Spiritans or contemplated priesthood but I met John McLoughlin! Also, of course, I met Fr. Locky thus beginning my own vocation to the Spiritans.
Finally, you may not be aware that for many years Deirdre has been counselling and helping indigenous women and children in the Sioux Lookout area and that the Province of TransCanada has been supporting this vital ministry.
We thank you Dermot for you gifts, you life, your laughter. May you be at peace with God.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
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FATHER THOMAS GARVEY, CSSp ~ 1930 – 2020
FATHER THOMAS GARVEY of the Spiritan Province of TransCanada died peacefully on the night of July 29, 2020 at the Houses of Providence in Scarborough, Ontario. Father Tom was predeceased by his parents (Daniel and Nelly) and ten siblings (nine brothers and one sister). He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews in Ireland.
Father Tom was born April 25, 1930 in Abbeyknockmoy, Tuam, Co.Galway, Ireland. He made his first profession as a Spiritan on September 8, 1949 and was ordained to the priesthood on July 13, 1958. During his 72 years plus as a priest, Father Tom served in both educational and pastoral ministry.
First assigned to Canada in 1959, Father Tom taught at Neil McNeil High School where he served in various positions for 11 years. In 1979, he moved to Bishop MacDonnell High School in Guelph, Ontario where he served for five years before moving to Alberta.
It was in 1975 that Father Tom moved to Alberta and began a long and memorable career in pastoral ministry. Father Tom served in several Alberta parishes including Blairmore, Vauxhall and his much beloved Banff, where he ministered faithfully for 16 years. Retiring to Calgary, Father Tom continued to assist where and when he was needed, helping out with both weekday and weekend Masses and acting as chaplain to various congregations of Religious sisters.
In 2013, Father Tom moved to the Spiritan retirement community of Laval House in North York, Ontario. Since April of 2019, Father Tom resided at the Houses of Providence nursing home in Scarborough, Ontario. He will best be remembered for devotion to the sacraments, especially the sacrament of reconciliation, his tremendous pride in being a Spiritan priest and his sense of humor. His Spiritan confreres, family and many friends will miss him. May he be at peace with the Lord.
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Visitation will take place on Thursday, August 6th from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Parish*, 200 Morrish Road, Scarborough, ON, M1C 1E8, followed immediately in the same church by a Mass of the Resurrection at 11:00 AM. Following Mass, burial will take place at 1:00 PM at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON, L3T 2C7.
*Please note that due to COVID 19, certain restrictions and protocols must be adhered to. Masks must be worn in the church and social distancing regulations must be followed according to the rules of the government of Ontario and the Archdiocese of Toronto.
FATHER JOHN CUNNINGHAM, CSSp
July 8, 1924 – May 23, 2019
FR. JOHN CUNNINGHAM of the Spiritan Province of TransCanada died peacefully on the night of May 23rd, 2019. At the time Fr. John was a resident of the Houses of Providence, Scarborough, Ontario. He is predeceased by his parents Bartholomew and Ellen (Nellie), and siblings, Liam, Bridget, Brendan and Flannan. He will be missed by nieces and nephews in Ireland, Flannan, Francis, Anne, Laura and Peter and cousins in Canada, Pat Sexton, Mary Flanagan and Mary Sneep.
Fr. John was born July 8, 1924 in Quilty, County Clare, Ireland. He made his first profession as a Spiritan on September 15, 1943 and was ordained to the priesthood on July 15, 1951. During his 67 years plus as a priest he served in a variety of pastoral works in Nigeria, Ireland and Canada.
Assigned from 1951 to 1955 to parish ministry in Nigeria, Fr. John then returned to Ireland and served in teaching ministry at Blackrock College, Dublin from 1956-59. In May of 1960, Fr. John was assigned to Canada and began with a short stay at Holy Rosary parish in Guelph, Ontario (Diocese of Hamilton) before serving five years at St. Rita’s parish in Woodstock, Ontario (Diocese of London).
In 1966, Fr. John made the move to his beloved Alberta and ministered in the Archdiocese of Edmonton. There he was the founding pastor of Holy Spirit parish in Edmonton. He later served as pastor of St. Peter’s parish in Villeneuve, St. Andrew’s parish in Edmonton and finally at Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Edmonton.
Fr. John served a number of terms on the Spiritan Provincial Council and was a very popular coordinator of the Spiritan group living in Alberta. Due to health issues, Fr. John retired to Toronto in the fall of 2001 residing first at Shanahan House, then La Salle Manor and finally the Houses of Providence in Scarborough.
Father John was known for his welcoming smile, his fondness of reading, simplicity of life, his gentle kindness and love of people and pastoral ministry along with a great devotion to Edmonton’s hockey and football teams! Fr. John will be greatly missed by his Spiritan confreres, family and friends.
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Visitation
Monday June 3rd, 7:00 – 9:00 PM (with prayer service at 8:00 PM)
O’Connor Funeral Home, 1939 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough, ON, M1R 2Y8
Mass of the Resurrection
Tuesday June 4th, 11:00 AM
St. Joseph’s parish, 200 Morrish Road, Scarborough, ON, M1C 1E8
The Mass will be followed by a light reception in the church hall.
Burial will follow at 2:30 PM at Holy Cross cemetery, 8361 Yonge St., Thornhill, ON, L3T-2C7
Fr. Gerard Tannam, CSSp
May 22, 1929 - November 28, 2018
FATHER GERARD TANNAM (Gerry) of the Spiritan Province of TransCanada died peacefully the morning of November 28th, 2018. At the time Father Gerry was a resident of the Laval Community, Toronto where he had resided since 2004. His parents and siblings predecease him except for one brother, Desmond, who survives him in Dublin.
Father Gerry was born May 22, 1929 in Dublin, Ireland. He made his first profession as a Spiritan on September 8, 1948 and was ordained to the priesthood on July 4, 1957. During his 61 years as a priest he served in a variety of educational, pastoral and chaplaincy ministries in Tanzania, Nigeria, Italy, England and Canada.
First assigned to Tanzania, Father Gerry taught at St. Francis College from 1959 until 1962. In 1962 Father Gerry was assigned to teach at the Bigard Memorial Seminary in Nigeria from where he left during the Biafran Civil War. Father Gerry was assigned in 1970 to the Generalate Community in Rome where he served as the Secretary for Information.
In 1971 Father Gerry moved onto a teaching post at the Missionary Institute in London, England. In 1974 he moved to Canada to become the founding chaplain of York University in Toronto. Father Gerry served there until 1983 when he transferred to the chaplaincy department at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. The following year Father Gerry took up pastoral ministry, first at St. Joseph’s in Scarborough and later at St. Thomas the Apostle in Toronto. Father Gerry also served in Agincourt, and was involved in chaplaincy work at the Toronto Hospital from 1994-96. Following a short sabbatical Father Tannam semi-retired to the Laval Community in Toronto where he served as Bursar from 2004-2007, but always keeping up with various weekend ministries.
Father Gerry was known for his fondness of reading, his love of discussion and debate, his story telling and good humor. Father Gerry will be missed by his Spiritan confreres, family and friends.
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Visitation Wednesday December 5th, 2018, 7:00 – 9:00 PM (with Vigil prayer service at 7:30 PM).
O’Connor Funeral Home, 1939 Lawrence Ave E., Scarborough, ON, M1R 2Y8.
Mass of the Resurrection - Thursday December 6th, 11:00 AM.
St. Joseph’s Church, 200 Morrish Road, Scarborough, ON, M1C 1E8.
The Mass will be followed by a light reception in the church hall.
Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Thornhill at 2:30 PM.
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Fr. Michael Gerard Scott, CSSp
April 10th, 1930 - February 21st, 2018
FATHER MICHAEL GERARD (Gerry) SCOTT of the Spiritan Province of TransCanada died peacefully the afternoon of February 21, 2018 in the Houses of Providence, Scarborough, Ontario, where he had been residing since 2015. Prior to that, Father Gerry was a member of the Laval Community, Toronto where he had lived since 2002. He is predeceased by his parents (James and Mary), 2 sisters and 4 brothers. He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews in England and Ireland.
Father Gerry was born April 10, 1930 in Elphin, County Roscommon, Ireland. He made his first profession as a Spiritan on September 8, 1949, trained in Ireland and Trinidad and was ordained to the priesthood on July 13, 1958. During his 60 years as a priest he served in a variety of educational, pastoral and formationministries in Canada, the Unites States, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
First assigned to Canada in 1959 after his ordination, Father Gerry taught at Neil McNeil High School until 1968 following which he served in various pastoral ministries in Hamilton, Guelph and Toronto. As Novice Master to our North American International Novitiate from 1978 – 1983, Father Gerry touched the lives of many novices with his wisdom, experience and good humor. He then spent three years in the missions of Papua New Guinea and a year doing vocation and mission animation in Australia. Returning to Canada, Father Gerry continued pastoral work for many years again in Toronto, Woodstock, Guelph and Edmonton.
Father Gerry was also always ready to serve his Spiritan community in formation and in administration as a member of the Provincial Council of the Spiritan Province of TransCanada.
Father Gerry semi-retired at the age of 80, but he continued to enjoy part-time ministry at St. Stephen’s Chapel in downtown Toronto as well as assisting in weekend ministry in various Ontario parishes.
Father Gerry was widely known in the Toronto Irish community and was always ready to assist any members of that community in both times of joy and celebration and in grief and farewell. He loved his ministry at St. Stephen’s Chapel where he provided assistance long after it was expected of him. Father Gerry will be missed by his Spiritan confreres, family and friends.
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Visitation Sunday March 4th, 2018. 3:00 – 5:00 PM & 7:00 – 9:00 PM (with Vigil prayer service at 7:30 PM). O’Connor Funeral Home, 1939 Lawrence Ave E., Scarborough, ON, M1R 2Y8
Funeral Mass Monday March 5th , 2018, 11:00 AM
St. Joseph’s Church, 200 Morrish Road, Scarborough, ON, M1C 1E8
The Mass will be followed by a light reception in the church hall.
Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Toronto at 2:30 PM.
