John Francis KAVANAGH

FR. JOHN FRANCIS KAVANAGH O.M.I. Fr. John Francis (Frank) Kavanagh of the O.M.I. Lacombe Canada Province, died peacefully on December 20, 2022, at The Perley Health Centre. Fr. Frank was predeceased by his parents, Percy Kavanagh and May Hearty, and is the last of their 11 children: Clement (Bernadette, Rita), Muriel Annan (Doug), Mary Black (Jim), Agnita Whyte (Percy), Priscilla Bates (Frank), Marcella Brennan (Earl), Patrick (Gloria), Theresa Farmer (Ivan), Rita and Desmond. Fr. Frank leaves behind 18 nieces and nephews and extended family. Born in Ottawa on February 4, 1927, he made his first profession as an Oblate of Mary Immaculate on September 8, 1946 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1953. His first assignment in 1953 was to the history department of St. Patrick's College High School in Ottawa where he became Principal in 1964 through 1969. In that year, Fr. Frank was transferred to London, ON, and there he served as Principal of Catholic Central High School from 1969 to 1973. After receiving his B.A. at St. Patrick's College of the University of Ottawa, he went on to receive an B.A. (Honours) and his M.A in History from Cambridge University. In 1960 Fr. Frank heard an additional calling and joined the R.C.A.F. Reserves as a part-time Air Force Chaplain. Over the next 30 years he ministered to the hearts and minds of the air force, serving as Base Chaplin in Ottawa, Downsview, Borden, London, ON and in France and Germany in the summer of 1963. In 1972 -73, Fr. Frank served as a full-time President of the Ontario English Catholic Teacher's Federation. In 1973 he joined the Metro Toronto Separate School Board as assistant superintendent of secondary schools, before becoming superintendent of secondary schools from 1975-1977. In 1977 to 1981 he served as Assistant Director of Education. In 1981 Fr. Frank returned to the Ontario English Catholic Teacher's Association (OECTA) as Executive Director/General Secretary. He responded admirably to the challenges put before him, specifically the rapid membership expansion and the drive for full funding of the Catholic Secondary School Component in Ontario. Frank was a familiar figure at the Ontario Teachers' Federation, the Canadian Teachers' Federation, the World Union of Catholic Teachers, the World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession, and all associated teaching organizations within the province of Ontario. Upon retirement from OECTA in 1992, Fr. Frank joined the Ontario Bishops Education office, known as the Institute for Catholic Education. He completed his service to the Institute as Chair of the Board of Directors on February 8, 2016. Fr. Frank joined his fellow Oblates in Community in Ottawa in the fall of 2019 before moving to The Perley Health Centre in 2021. Fr. Frank's intelligence, love of knowledge, calm demeanor, good humour and genuine concern for those around him will be greatly missed. Oblate Vigil Prayer Service at Canadian Martyrs Church, 100 Main Street, Ottawa, on Tuesday, December 27, at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass on Wednesday, December 28 at 11:00 a.m., reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to donate in memory of Father Frank, please consider a donation to the Catholic Education Foundation of Ottawa (CEFO) at https://cefo.org/ or a Charity of Your Choice.