Fr. Joseph Benedict Donnelly

Fr. Joseph Benedict Donnelly, 1916-2017

On March 2nd, 2017 at approximately 11:50 pm, our Fr. Joseph died quietly in bed. Fr. Joseph was a good and holy man who endured much in his final years as his health deteriorated. Thankfully, we were able to care for him, here, throughout it all. Fr. Joseph, in his decline, truly gave himself fully to our community and in so doing, became our communal heart.

For Father’s 100’s birthday celebration, a brief biography was prepared:

Joseph Benedict Donnelly was born on 3 October 1916 just outside of Philadelphia to Irish Catholic parents. His father was first generation Irish but his mother’s lineage goes back to the colonial days. In 1934 after graduation from high school, he entered the Maryknoll Fathers. At first he was studying Japanese but at the outbreak of World War II he switched to Spanish. Upon his ordination in 1943 he was destined to go to Chile, but then that was cancelled and he headed instead, to Peru, where he served, until 1965, when he entered the Trappists, here at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

We deeply appreciate your prayers for our deceased brother.