Fr. Anthony J. Berret, SJ, was called to eternal life on February 17, 2026, at the St. Claude La Colombière Jesuit Community in Baltimore. He was 86 years old, a Jesuit for 67 years, and a priest for 54 years.
Fr. Berret was born on January 13, 1940, in Philadelphia, PA. He attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School before entering the Society of Jesus at the Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues in Wernersville, PA, on September 7, 1958. He completed philosophy studies at Loyola Seminary in Shrub Oak, earning a Ph.L. in 1965, while also receiving a B.A. in English (1964) and an M.A. in English (1967) from Fordham University. He studied theology at Woodstock College in New York and was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1971, at Loyola College in Maryland. He later earned a Ph.D. in Humanities from Johns Hopkins University in 1981.
Fr. Berret devoted most of his priestly life to teaching and scholarship in the humanities and literature. He began his ministry as a teacher of English and Latin at Loyola Blakefield (1965–1968) and later taught theology at Fordham University (1970–1971). Following ordination, he served as professor of English Literature and Theology at Loyola College in Maryland (1971–1974). He then taught English Literature at St. Peter’s University (1977–1982) before beginning a long and distinguished tenure at Saint Joseph’s University, where he served as professor of English from 1982 until 2013 and then as professor emeritus.
Known for his love of language, literature, and classical learning, Fr. Berret brought intellectual rigor, Jesuit humanistic tradition, and pastoral care to generations of students. He was proficient in Latin and had reading knowledge of Greek and German, reflecting his lifelong devotion to scholarship.
In his later years, Fr. Berret was missioned primarily to a ministry of prayer for the Church and the Society of Jesus. He resided at the Loyola Center Jesuit Community in Philadelphia from 2020 to 2023, then at Manresa Hall until December 2025, before moving to St. Claude La Colombière Jesuit Community in Baltimore.
Fr. Berret will be remembered as a devoted Jesuit educator, a gifted teacher of literature and the humanities, and a faithful priest who shaped the minds and hearts of countless students.
May he rest in the peace of Christ, whom he served with wisdom, fidelity, and love.
Click here to light a Virtual Candle in memoriam of the life and legacy of Fr. Anthony J. Berret, SJ.
