Fr. James (Chief) McDonough, O.P. (1930-2022)

We announce that our brother Fr. James (Chief) McDonough, OP, passed away on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, in Austin, Texas.

Fr. James A. (Jim) McDonough, OP, also known as Chief, was born September 23, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois. He was baptized on October 12, 1930, at St. Andrew’s Church in Chicago. He was a member of the United States Navy.

He entered the novitiate for the Province of St. Albert the Great in 1955 and professed simple vows at St. Peter Martyr Priory in Winona, Minnesota on August 31, 1956. Fr. Jim’s solemn profession took place at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinois, on August 31, 1959. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Rose of Lima Priory in Dubuque, Iowa on June 2, 1962.

Fr. Jim earned a BA in Philosophy from St. Thomas Aquinas College, River Forest, IL, an MA in Theology from Aquinas Institute, Dubuque, IA, and a BSS in Social Services from St. Mary’s College in Minnesota.

Fr. Jim’s first assignment was as an Assistant Professor of Humanities at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, for four years. For the next two years, he served as Associate Director at St. Albert’s Catholic Student Center in Hammond, Louisiana. Fr. Jim then moved back to Texas where he would remain for the rest of his life. He worked for the Travis County, Texas, Adult Probation Project in Austin, Texas, beginning in 1969 and ending in 1991. He served as Adult Probation Officer, Director of Education and Staff Development, Director of Community Resource Development, Director of Services, and Executive Director. Later he served as a Consultant for the National Institute of Corrections, for four years. Fr. Jim served for five years as the Director of the Southern Dominican Global Missions. For seven years, Fr. Jim served as the Syndic for the Province. For ten years, Fr. Jim served as Chaplain at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy, and for his last three years of active ministry as the Chaplain at St. Gabriel’s School.

Fr. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James Lawrence McDonough, and Dorothy (born Schnitker) McDonough, his brother, Robert F. McDonough, and his sister-in-law, Barbara (McDonough) Gauer. He is survived by four nieces, Mary (Randy) Johnson, Nancy (David) Huber, Peggy (Glenn) Siegele, Molly (Tim) Simmermon, and one nephew Robert P. McDonough. He was also loved by many great-nieces and nephews, nine great-great nieces, many members of the Dominican family, and friends.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Funeral Arrangements
June 17, 2022

Visitation at 9:00 AM
Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM
Burial following Mass at Assumption Cemetery

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
4800 Convict Hill Road
Austin, TX  78749

Website: www.stcatherine-austin.org
The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed on the Church website.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Southern Dominican Province
P.O. Box 8129, New Orleans, LA  70182.
 

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