Rev. James E. Tobin

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Rev. James E. Tobin, C.S.C., passed away peacefully at Holy Cross House, on the campus of the University of Notre Dame, on Aug. 27, 2008. He was 87 years old and had been in declining health for several years.

Born on Sept. 26, 1920, in Dorchester (Boston), Mass., he was the son of John and Catherine (O'Brien) Tobin. He attended St. Peter's Grade School in Dorchester, and St. John's High School in Cambridge. Upon graduation from high school in 1938, he entered St. Pius X Seminary in Easton, Mass. He attended Holy Cross Novitiate at North Dartmouth, Mass., in 1940, and professed first vows in the Congregation of Holy Cross on Aug. 16, 1941.

He then moved to Moreau Seminary at the University of Notre Dame, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from the Notre Dame in 1943. Having manifested his interest in the foreign missions and taken the fourth (mission) vow in 1942, he was assigned to the Foreign Mission Seminary in Washington, D.C., in September of 1943. He professed final vows in the Congregation of Holy Cross on June 8, 1945, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 1947, by the Most Rev. Lawrence Graner, C.S.C., the new Bishop of Dacca (East Pakistan, later Bangladesh). It was Bishop Graner's first priestly ordination following his own consecration as bishop.

In September of 1947, he departed from New York together with Frs. Robert Steigmeyer, C.S.C., Chester Schneider, C.S.C., and Robert Hoffmann, C.S.C., aboard the S.S. Jericho and arrived later in the fall in Dacca, East Pakistan. He spent a year in Dacca learning the Bengali language and was then assigned in 1948 to Little Flower Seminary in Bandhura, where he served for four years. Father Tobin remained in Bangladesh for 30 years, serving in various parishes and mission stations. His final assignment before returning to the U.S. was to replace Father William Evans, C.S.C., at the Golla mission, after Father Evans was killed by the West Pakistan army in November of 1971, during the war of independence that led to the creation of Bangladesh.

He was reassigned to the United States in 1976, serving as chaplain at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn., from 1976-1982. During that time, he completed the Clinical Pastoral Education Program (CPE) and received professional pastoral certification in hospital chaplaincy.

In 1982, he was assigned to Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville. In addition to his parish responsibilities, he also served as chaplain at Cape Cod Hospital.

From 1992-1994, he served as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart/St. Francis de Sales Parish in Bennington, Vt., returning in 1994 to Our Lady of Victory in Centerville. He remained there until 1996 when he was granted senior status and took up residence with the Stonehill Community in Easton, Mass. He continued to provide parish assistance in local parishes until 2003 when declining health required his transfer to Holy Cross House at Notre Dame. He remained there until his death.

Father Tobin was preceded in death by his parents, John and Catherine, and by his brothers and sisters, among them Joseph and Elizabeth (Sister Mary Agnes of the Sisters of Charity of Halifax). He is survived by a number of cousins, and will be missed by his brothers in the Congregation of Holy Cross.

Father Tobin will be remembered for his warm smile and his gentle, easy-going nature. Whether serving in Bangladesh, in hospital chaplaincy, or in parish ministry, his kindness and humor endeared him to the people he served.

A memorial service was held at Holy Cross House in Notre Dame, on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008. A wake service will be held at the Chapel of Mary on the Stonehill College campus in Easton, Mass., at 7:30 p.m., on Friday (today), Sept. 5, 2008. The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in the Chapel of Mary at Stonehill College, on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery on the Stonehill campus.

May he rest in peace!

Arrangements are by the Kane Funeral Home, 605 Washington St. (Route 138), Easton, Mass. For condolences, visit www.kanefuneralhome.com.