Fr. Ronald J. Larkin

Fr. Ronald J. Larkin
Father Ronald J. Larkin, M.S.C., was born in Flint, Mich., on February 10, 1935, to Bruce E. and Gertrude B. (Jones) Larkin. He graduated from St. Marys Parochial Grade School in Mount Morris, Mich., in 1949 in the fall of that year, he entered Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, Geneva, Ill., where he completed his secondary education and one year of college. In 1954, Father Larkin entered the novitiate of the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Youngstown, Ohio, making his first profession of religious vows in 1955. He continued his studies for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Seminary, making his final profession of vows in 1958. For his theological studies, he was sent to the Gregorian University in Rome, where he studied for eight years, earning a Licentiate (S.T.L.) degree in Theology in 1962 and a Ph.D. in philosophy in 1966. He was ordained a priest at the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Piazza Navona in Rome on July 2, 1961. Following the completion of his studies in Rome, Father Larkin returned to Sacred Heart Seminary in Shelby and began teaching philosophy, psychology, art and theology. In 1968, he was transferred to the MSC college community in Center Valley, and was appointed assistant professor of philosophy and eventually chairman of the philosophy department of Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales. He was a Carnegie Foundation Grantee in 1970 for summer studies in philosophy at Notre Dame University in Indiana. While teaching at Allentown College, he published his doctoral thesis, C.I. Lewis Theory of Concepts. (Wickersham Press, Allentown, 1972). In 1972, he was appointed superior of the local MSC community in Center Valley and, in 1976, he was elected provincial superior of the United States Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, a position he held until 1981. In 1981, Father Larkin was elected Vicar General of the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, being re-elected to that position for a second term in 1987. In that capacity, he resided at the congregations headquarters at Via Asmara in Rome and traveled extensively, visiting most of the congregations foundations in over three dozen countries and conducting retreats for his confreres in several of them. After leaving Rome, Father Larkin was granted a sabbatical leave in 1994 to study at Boston College. In September of 1994, he was appointed associate pastor to St. Joseph Church, Upland, Calif., in charge of Hispanic ministry. He remained in that position for three years. In 1997, the Most Reverend Gerald Barnes, Bishop of San Bernardino, appointed him to a full time position as his Vicar for Clergy. On February 2, 2003, Fr. Ron was awarded the Pontifical Cross, Pro Ecclesia at Pontifice, by Pope John Paul II. For reasons of health, in February 2007, he was reassigned to Sacred Heart Villa, Center Valley, where he resided until his death on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007. Survivors: Brothers, Bruce and Letty Larkin of Lehigh Acres, Fla., Elwin and Thelma Larkin of Reese, Mich., James and Mary Larkin of Gladwin, Mich., Aaron and Pam Larkin of Largo, Fla.; sisters, Faith and Ed Corcoran of Mt. Morris, Mich., Hope and Gene DeLaVergne of Largo, Fla., Charity Fournier of Montrose, Mich., Gloria and Lance Lavigne of Mt. Morris. He was predeceased by his parents, Gertrude and Bruce Larkin, brothers, Donald and Leo Larkin, and sister, Philomena. Services: Mass of Christian Burial will be concelebrated at 9 a.m., today, April 10, 2007 in the Sacred Heart Villa Chapel, Center Valley, with Father Joseph Muller, MSC, as Principal Celebrant. On Wednesday, April 11, 2007, a viewing will take place at Miles Martin Funeral Home, 1194 E. Mount Morris Road, Mt. Morris, Michigan. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 12, 2007 at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, 11110 North Saginaw Street, Mount Morris, with the Very Rev. Joseph Jablonski, MSC, Privincial Superior of the USA Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, as principal Celebrant. Interment will follow in the Larkin Family Plot in the parish cemetery. The Reichel Funeral Home and the Miles Martin Funeral Home are in charge of funeral arrangements respectively in Center Valley and Mount Morris. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Father Ronald J. Larkin Memorial Fund at Sacred Heart Villa, 3300 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034-9563.