Augustine Healy dies
We lost Father Augustine Healy in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Not that Father’s death on Friday, Sept 2, 2005, was related to the hurricane, but his burial at the Monastery of Marylake would be attended by the refugees from that storm. Gus was a long time veteran of our province, having entered our minor seminary in 1940, when Fr. Simon was director of the seminary and Father Leopold was prefect of students.
Born 20-Jul-1923 to Mr & Mrs Peter J Healy in Brooklyn New York, he was baptized “James.” Our minor seminary was in Hartshorne OK the year young James joined us.
That summer of 1940, we had to evacuate our students studying in Rome because of the war. With the coming home of our Fraters from Rome we are like "sardines crammed in a can," the students reported.
Brothers Felix DaPrato, Anthony Devine and Joseph Yohe were preparing to be ordained in Oklahoma City. Felix was practicing how to celebrate a high Mass in his cell --complete with incense. Yohe was a native son of our parish in Hartshorne. Clement Shaughnessey and Gabriel Hentrich came from Rome to join the three in Oklahoma City and were all ordained priests on June 30th.
James was clothed in the Discalced Carmelite habit in San Antonio on 26-Sep-41, taking the name Augustine of the Sorrowful Mother. There were five novices in his class under the direction of Fr. Bernard Brotons, who took sick and retired to Oklahoma City where he died during Gus’ novitiate. Simon was sent down to San Antonio to become the new Novice Master. They were joined in the summer of ’42 by Pascal Pierini and Patrick Ahern. Augustine made his profession of vows with Thomas Benhke on 27-Sep-42. [Photo taken on his profession day] They were then sent to Ponca City for philosophy. He made his solemn profession in 1945 in Oklahoma City where he studied theology. He was ordained priest at our parish in Oklahoma City on 04-Jun-49. His first assignment was at our parish in Hartshorne OK.
In 1954, Raymond Donoho sent him to be prior of San Antonio. In 1957, the young priest was elected 3rd Provincial Councillor under John Emmanuel. In 1963 he left San Antonio for Pearsall. He was elected provincial councilor again under Raymond. When Pascal resigned as prior of San Antonio, Augustine returned again to be prior of San Antonio in 1965. In 1969 he was named pastor of Hartshorne until Joseph Peña was sent there in 1971. In 1972 he was in Oklahoma City with Thomas. In 1975, he began a twelve year stint at the cathedral of Dallas under Jenaro where he underwent extensive treatment 
for cancer, which he managed to beat: “I’m considered a cancer survivor,” he said. In 1987 he was pastor of San Antonio under Raymond. In 1990 he returned to Dallas to be assistant pastor at Santa Maria under Jenaro. In ’93, Jenaro was sent to Oklahoma City, and Gus remained assistant under Henry. In 1995, he moved to St. Francis Village in Crowley Texas where he lived the remainder of his life.
Gus was an avid outdoorsman who would, like clockwork, travel down to south Texas each fall in his flannel shirt ready to stalk wild deer with his hunting buddies. After years of smoking he had his carotid arteries cleared, and slowed considerably his outdoor sports activities. By the turn of the century he was definitely retired, and rarely practiced his ministry aside from weekend Masses around Crowley. In 2003, he wrote: “Dear John Michael, thank you so much for the province news… esp., concerning our old and infirm Friars in which I include myself! Fr. Mary Philip's condition warrants serious concern and prayer ... Improper medical care and a stay in the hospital is scary!
I've had some experiences that would make a healthy person get sick! As for me, visits to the doctor's office continue almost on regular basis and not so regular as I try to avoid them as much as I can! My doctor is good, but needs more cooperation from me! I rely more on prayer, not my own necessarily but on the prayers of so many others. This is not done as a last resort but a continuing effort from the beginning and I’m convinced it has worked/ helped.”
Father Augustine died after weeks in a Ft. Worth hospital. Father was a conventual friar of Santa Maria parish in Dallas.
Born 20-Jul-1923 to Mr & Mrs Peter J Healy in Brooklyn New York, he was baptized “James.” Our minor seminary was in Hartshorne OK the year young James joined us.
That summer of 1940, we had to evacuate our students studying in Rome because of the war. With the coming home of our Fraters from Rome we are like "sardines crammed in a can," the students reported.Brothers Felix DaPrato, Anthony Devine and Joseph Yohe were preparing to be ordained in Oklahoma City. Felix was practicing how to celebrate a high Mass in his cell --complete with incense. Yohe was a native son of our parish in Hartshorne. Clement Shaughnessey and Gabriel Hentrich came from Rome to join the three in Oklahoma City and were all ordained priests on June 30th.
James was clothed in the Discalced Carmelite habit in San Antonio on 26-Sep-41, taking the name Augustine of the Sorrowful Mother. There were five novices in his class under the direction of Fr. Bernard Brotons, who took sick and retired to Oklahoma City where he died during Gus’ novitiate. Simon was sent down to San Antonio to become the new Novice Master. They were joined in the summer of ’42 by Pascal Pierini and Patrick Ahern. Augustine made his profession of vows with Thomas Benhke on 27-Sep-42. [Photo taken on his profession day] They were then sent to Ponca City for philosophy. He made his solemn profession in 1945 in Oklahoma City where he studied theology. He was ordained priest at our parish in Oklahoma City on 04-Jun-49. His first assignment was at our parish in Hartshorne OK.
In 1954, Raymond Donoho sent him to be prior of San Antonio. In 1957, the young priest was elected 3rd Provincial Councillor under John Emmanuel. In 1963 he left San Antonio for Pearsall. He was elected provincial councilor again under Raymond. When Pascal resigned as prior of San Antonio, Augustine returned again to be prior of San Antonio in 1965. In 1969 he was named pastor of Hartshorne until Joseph Peña was sent there in 1971. In 1972 he was in Oklahoma City with Thomas. In 1975, he began a twelve year stint at the cathedral of Dallas under Jenaro where he underwent extensive treatment 
for cancer, which he managed to beat: “I’m considered a cancer survivor,” he said. In 1987 he was pastor of San Antonio under Raymond. In 1990 he returned to Dallas to be assistant pastor at Santa Maria under Jenaro. In ’93, Jenaro was sent to Oklahoma City, and Gus remained assistant under Henry. In 1995, he moved to St. Francis Village in Crowley Texas where he lived the remainder of his life.Gus was an avid outdoorsman who would, like clockwork, travel down to south Texas each fall in his flannel shirt ready to stalk wild deer with his hunting buddies. After years of smoking he had his carotid arteries cleared, and slowed considerably his outdoor sports activities. By the turn of the century he was definitely retired, and rarely practiced his ministry aside from weekend Masses around Crowley. In 2003, he wrote: “Dear John Michael, thank you so much for the province news… esp., concerning our old and infirm Friars in which I include myself! Fr. Mary Philip's condition warrants serious concern and prayer ... Improper medical care and a stay in the hospital is scary!
I've had some experiences that would make a healthy person get sick! As for me, visits to the doctor's office continue almost on regular basis and not so regular as I try to avoid them as much as I can! My doctor is good, but needs more cooperation from me! I rely more on prayer, not my own necessarily but on the prayers of so many others. This is not done as a last resort but a continuing effort from the beginning and I’m convinced it has worked/ helped.”Father Augustine died after weeks in a Ft. Worth hospital. Father was a conventual friar of Santa Maria parish in Dallas.
posted by john michael | 11:34 PM
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