Rev. James C. Fahey

July 22, 1929 - Nov. 30, 2012 NOTRE DAME - Rev. James C. Fahey, C.S.C., 83, died Friday evening (Nov. 30, 2012) at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind. He was born on July 22, 1929, in Cleveland, to James C. Sr. and Elizabeth J. (Hendrickson) Fahey. Fr. Fahey attended elementary school in Barberton, Ohio, and graduated from St. Vincent High School, Akron, Ohio, in 1947. In the fall of that year he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame as a freshman and also entered the Seminary for the Congregation of Holy Cross. On August 15, 1948, Fr. Fahey entered the Novitiate in South Bend, Ind. Fr. Fahey graduated from the University in 1952 with an A.B. degree in Philosophy and was ordained to the priesthood at Notre Dame on June 6, 1956. After his Ordination, Fr. Fahey taught at Notre Dame High School in Niles, IL, and later taught at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. Fr. Fahey served as Assistant Pastor at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in Austin from 1959 to 1962. He then moved back to South Bend, Ind., serving as the Assistant Pastor at Christ the King Parish and Chaplain of Columba Hall for the Midwest Province of Brothers while continuing his graduate studies at Notre Dame. In 1964 he earned an M.A. in Sociology, after which Fr. Fahey was assigned to Trujillo, Peru, where he also became involved in the Christian Family Movement. Fr. Fahey returned to the United States after two years to teach at Notre Dame High School; and then in 1967, he joined the Congregation's Southern Province. He worked in Campus Ministry at Northwestern University in Natchitoches, LA, while also serving as Pastor at Holy Cross Church. He was asked by the Provincial Superior of the Southern Province to found a parish in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Texas. In 1976 he founded and became the Pastor of St. James the Apostle Parish in Spring, Texas, a position he held for five years. From 1981 to 1985, Fr. Fahey studied liturgical architecture at the University of Notre Dame. From 1985 to 1990, he served as Chaplain and Assistant Pastor of St. Francis Hall in Mishawaka, IN, and St. Hedwig's Parish in South Bend, respectively. In 1990 Fr. Fahey returned to Texas to serve as Pastor of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Burnet for two years. He then went to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in New Orleans as the Assistant Pastor from 1992 to 1993. He moved back to South Bend in 1994 to again serve as Assistant Pastor at St. Hedwig's Parish until 1996. Fr. Fahey also worked at St. Adalbert Parish for seven years. From 2003 to 2009 he served in parish ministry in Texas and Louisiana. In 2009, Fr. Fahey returned to South Bend to live at Our Lady of Fatima House and later moved to Holy Cross House in 2012, where he died. Survivors include brothers, Don and William, and sister, Coletta Wandel. Fr. Fahey was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Elizabeth Rogers, and a brother, Robert Fahey. Visitation will be from 3:30 to 9:00 p.m. today (Dec. 3, 2012) at Moreau Seminary, with a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 4, 2012) at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame. Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross may be made to United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765.