Spring 2008
Kansas Monks
Eternal Rest:
Fr. James Downey passes away Photo by Abbot Barnabas Senecal
Father James John Downey, O.S.B., 87, professed member of St. Benedict’s Abbey for 65 years, died in his sleep Tuesday evening, Jan. 29, at St. Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison, Kan. Upon being notified of his death, monks gathered in Father James’ room around his bed, prayed the prayers for the dead and sang the Ultima. Earlier in the day Father James initiated a conversation with Abbot Barnabas, wanting to be assured that he was in good standing with the Abbot and the community. Abbot Barnabas assured him that he was. Father James was ready, though he gave no indication of failing health. Father James was born Sept. 19, 1920, in Plattsburg, Mo., one of eleven children of William and Margaret Kenney Downey. He attended St. Rita Catholic School in Cameron, Mo., and graduated from Plattsburg High School in 1938. He continued his education at St. Benedict’s College, Atchison, earning a degree in economics in 1943, graduating cum laude, and completed studies in the Abbey School of Theology in 1946. He pursued graduate studies in economics at the University of Illinois the summers of 1946 and 1947, and Fordham University the sum-
mers of 1948 and 1949. Father James served at St. Benedict’s College as the Director of Public Relations, 1960-1964. In 1964 he was named the assistant director of the St. Lawrence Student Catholic Center at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Later he served as pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in rural Atchison County, and served as Administrator of
support of numerous bishops, priests, religious and lay people with the goal of aiding religious communities in the renewal of their lives following the Second Vatican Council. Upon his retirement from the Institute Father James served at St. John Cantius Parish, Chicago, until his return to the Abbey in the spring of 2005. Father James is survived
Father James was ready, though he gave no indication of failing health. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Wathena, Kan. In 1980 Father James became the Executive Director of the Institute on Religious Life in Chicago, Ill. In 1991 the offices were moved to Ann Arbor, Mich. He retired from that post in 2000 after 20 years of faithful service. The Institute was founded in 1974 under the leadership of His Eminence John Cardinal Carberry of St. Louis, with the
by members of the monastic community of St. Benedict’s Abbey; his sisters, Joan Schultz, St. Joseph, Mo., Margaret Ann Koechner, Tipton, Mo., and Sr. Theresa Downey, RSCJ, Grand Coteau, La.; a brother, Patrick Downey, Minneapolis, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding Father James in death were his parents, four brothers, Michael Downey, Thomas Downey, James D.
Downey, and Abbot Brendan Downey, fifth abbot of St. Benedict’s Abbey, and two sisters, Sr. Rosemary Downey, RSCJ, and Frances Rogers. Vespers of the Office for the Dead were celebrated Friday, Feb. 1, in St. Benedict’s Abbey Church, with visitation following. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday, Feb. 2, in the Abbey Church, with Abbot Barnabas Senecal, O.S.B., as the principal celebrant. It is fitting that Father James’ funeral Mass was celebrated on the Feast of the Presentation, a day which Pope John Paul II made into a World Day for Consecrated Life. As Father James helped many to live the consecrated life, so he received the prayers of the Church, and many of those same religious, on that day.
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