Ronan Callahan

1923 - 2015

Father Ronan Callahan, a Passionist priest, seminary professor, and overseas missionary, died at Saint Mary Home, West Hartford, Connecticut on Wednesday, September 9th, 2015. He was 92. Born Jerome F. Callahan in 1923, the second son the late Walter S. Callahan and the late Rose (Tierney) Callahan and named for his grandfather. Brother of Robert Callahan of Farmingdale, New York and the late Walter Callahan. Father Ronan grew up in the Flatlands section of Brooklyn. He attended Saint Augustine High School in Brooklyn, NY and graduated from Farmingdale High School in Farmingdale, NY in 1941. He studied at Manhattan College in the Bronx, NY and graduated from Cathedral College of Immaculate Conception Preparatory Seminary, Brooklyn, NY in 1944. He then entered the Passionist Community, a Roman Catholic community of brothers and priests dedicated to preaching the Passion of the Christ, contemplative prayer, the preaching of parish missions and retreats, and overseas missionary work. After completing novitiate at Saint Paul of the Cross Monastery, Pittsburgh, PA in 1945, Father Ronan studied theology at Saint Michael Monastery, Union City, NJ. He received an MA in Theology and was ordained a priest in 1951. He then studied philosophy at the Angelicum in Rome, Italy from 1952-1954, the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada, Laval University, Quebec, Canada, and Georgetown University, Washington, DC. He received a Carnegie Fellowship at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana in 1968. Father Callahan taught philosophy at the Passionist Monastic Seminary, Jamaica, New York from 1954-1970. He also taught at Saint Joseph College, West Hartford, CT from 1964-1968 and held membership in the American Catholic Philosophical Association. In 1970 he embarked on a missionary career with the Passionists in the southern Philippines. He taught philosophy at Notre Dame of Marbel University in Cotabato, served as consultor to the Bishop, was chancellor of the Diocese of Marbel from 1975-1990, and ministered as a prison and hospital chaplain. He was president of the Philosophy Association of the Visayas and Mindanao in the southern Philippines and received numerous awards for public service. Returning to the United States, Father Ronan taught at Holy Apostles Seminary, Cromwell, CT from 1993 until his death. He also served in local leadership at Holy Family Monastery, West Hartford, CT during that time period. The Passionists are grateful for the care Fr. Ronan received through the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist with home care, and the Sisters of Mercy at St. Mary Home. The Funeral will be held at Holy Family Monastery Chapel, West Hartford, CT. The wake will be at 9AM on Monday, September 14th with the Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11AM, also at Holy Family Chapel. Burial will be immediately afterward at Holy Family Cemetery on the Monastery grounds. Donations may be made to the Passionist Retirement Fund, Holy Family Monastery, 303 Tunxis Road, W. Hartford, CT 06107.