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Casey, Thomas J. (Father)

January 11, 2018

Jesuit Father Thomas J. Casey died Jan. 11, 2018 in St. Louis. He was 90 years old, a Jesuit for 72 years and a priest for 60 years.

Casey, Thomas J.

Jesuit Father Thomas J. Casey died Jan. 11, 2018 in St. Louis. He was 90 years old, a Jesuit for 72 years and a priest for 60 years.

He was born April 14, 1927, in Evanston, Illinois, to Thomas B. Casey and Mary Kathryn Lavin Casey, who preceded him in death. He was also predeceased by brothers Bernard, Edward, Richard, Robert, and John Casey and a sister, Margaret Hindman. He is survived by his brother James and his sister Anne Marie Cody.

He entered the Society of Jesus at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Missouri, on February 4, 1945, when he was just 17 years old. He was ordained June 19, 1957 at St. Mary’s College, St. Marys, Kansas. He pronounced his final vows on Aug. 15, 1962 at Regis University in Denver.

Fr. Casey had two main apostolates as a priest. He taught sociology for 15 years at Regis College, now University, in Denver (1960-75), and for briefer times at Seattle University in Seattle and at Saint Louis University. He then transitioned to pastoral ministry, serving in various towns and dioceses where priests were scarce.

The opportunity to live as part in a community was especially appealing to Fr. Casey, and one of the reasons he chose the Jesuits over life as a diocesan priest. So, he surprised no one more than himself when he made himself available to serve in remote locations. He found himself drawn to this ministry by the faith of the people he served, especially in Trinidad and Pueblo, Colorado and Tulsa, Durant, and Wilburton, Oklahoma. It is notable that, on more than one occasion, when he thought he might be at the point of retirement, he answered yet another call to a parish or convent that needed a priest.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Latin and English and licentiate in philosophy at Saint Louis University. He studied theology at St. Mary’s College in St. Marys, Kansas earning a licentiate in theology in 1959. He also received a Master’s degree in sociology from Saint Louis University.

Memorial gifts may be made to the USA Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus at 4511 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108 or through this website.Â