Father William Hanley

Father William Hanley died July 13 at 1:05 p.m. under the care of hospice.

One of three sons, Father Hanley was born on February 22, 1938, in Philadelphia, PA to parents William and Mary Hanley. He attended Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Philadelphia; St. Joseph's Preparatory School, Philadelphia; Loyola Seminary in New York; Woodstock College, in Maryland; and Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He was ordained to the Priesthood on June 7, 1969, for the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He was incardinated into the Diocese of Orlando on October 29, 1992.

Father Hanley said, "The call to Priesthood was to share the healing and helping presence of Christ." He did this as he served the people of God in various parishes in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Diocese of St. Petersburg before arriving in the Diocese of Orlando in 1988. In the Diocese of Orlando, he served at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs, 1988-1993; St. Mary Catholic Church in Rockledge, 1993-1995; St. Paul Catholic Church in Leesburg, 1996; and as Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Melbourne, 1996 until his retirement in 2009. In his retirement, he visited the sick and dying until he was no longer able.

Father Hanley also served as Spiritual Moderator for the Southern Deanery of the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and as a member of the Presbyteral Council. He received the diocesan honor, Mary, Mother of God Medal, in recognition for his devoted service during the Diocese of Orlando 50th Jubilee celebration in 2018.