Missionary of Mary Immaculate for 75 Years
Tewksbury
Rev. Patrick F. Healy, OMI, passed away at Cambridge Hospital the age of 100 after a brief illness. He was born in Charlestown, MA, the son of the late Patrick Healy, Sr., and the late Catherine (Walsh) Healy. Fr. Pat was the ninth of the ten Healy children, all of whom pre-deceased him.
He attended St. Mary’s grade school in Charlestown and Boston Latin and Boston English high schools, before entering Holy Angels Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, NY, the minor seminary of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
In 1940, Fr. Pat entered the novitiate in Tewksbury, MA, taking his first vows on September 8, 1941. He made perpetual vows 3 years later at the Oblate residence in Essex, NY. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 2, 1947 in Washington, D.C. by Bishop Arsene Turquetil, OMI, retired bishop of Hudson Bay, Canada.
After ordination, he was assigned as a teacher at Holy Angels Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, NY, and continued in 1951 at the new Bishop Fallon High School in Buffalo.
He later was a teacher at the Oblate minor seminary in Newburgh, NY for 4 years, before volunteering for the Mission of the Oblates in Japan, where he served for 13 years as rector of the seminary and treasurer of the mission.
In late 1965, while on vacation in the US, he was a passenger on an Eastern airlines flight which was involved in a mid-air collision outside New York City, and he spent several months recuperating.
He then joined the US Army as a Chaplain, serving until 1980 in Korea, Okinawa, Vietnam, Germany and Japan. He received the Nation Defense service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign and Service Medals (with 3 bronze stars) among many other military decorations.
In 1980, the provincial asked him to become pastor of St. Timothy’s parish in Miami, where he supervised the building of a new church. He then became Superior of the Oblate Residence & Infirmary in Tewksbury. He later served as a chaplain for the Army in Germany and West Point from 1987-1999. He continued his service to the military as chaplain at the Soldiers Home in Washington, DC (2000-02), then he resided in Tewksbury while preaching retreats and novenas. He was chaplain at Chelsea Soldiers’ Home For more than 20 years, a position he held until his death.
Fr. Healy’s visitation will take place on Monday, January 17 at St. Michael’s Chapel at the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home, 91 Crest Avenue, Chelsea from 9 until 11 AM. His Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 AM. To attend Monday’s Mass remotely please visit:
https://zoom.us/j/96294384672?pwd=SVJIamhrVlJlSHVGUHN0NnloM056Zz09
Meeting ID: 962 9438 4672
Passcode: av1Q1w
On Tuesday, January 18, his visitation will take place at the Oblate residence, 486 Chandler Street, Tewksbury, from 9 until 11 AM. His Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in the Oblate cemetery in Tewksbury.
To attend Tuesday’s Mass remotely, please visit: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/6251125286
Donations in memory of Fr. Healy may be made to the Oblate Infirmary Fund, 486 Chandler Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876. For condolences or directions, please visit www.mckennaouellette.com.
View the online memorial for Rev. Patrick F. Healy, OMI
Published by Lowell Sun on Jan. 16, 2022.
