Rev. Stephen Kieran Smith O.P.

Fr. Steve Kieran Smith, O.P., was born in New York, New York, on May 7, 1931, and died peacefully on April 4, 2018. Fr. Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Bridget Brady Smith and Peter Smith; and three brothers, Peter, Andrew and Thomas. He has two sisters-in-law, Attracta E Rodgers and Louise Adair Smith, currently residing in NY. He was a great blessing to his 10 nieces and 3 nephews, presiding over many of their weddings and baptisms of their children. Fr. Steve entered the Dominican novitiate for the Province of St. Joseph in August 1952 in Dover, MA. He professed first vows at St. Stephen Priory in Dover on August 26, 1952. On June 5, 1958, he was ordained to the Priesthood by Cardinal Cicognani in Washington, D.C. Fr. Steve held several degrees, including J.C.D., 1962; Theology, 1959; and Philosophy, 1955. The first assignment Fr. Steve had was as the Peritus at the Second Vatican Council from 1962-1963. Journeying to Pakistan from 1963 -1982, Fr. Steve was first the Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature. Then he was the Pastor at Our Lady of Fatima, Volunteer Director and then Director for Catholic Relief Services and Co-Founder Inter-Aid Karachi. In 1982, Fr. Steve was then assigned in 1982 as Associate Pastor and Prior at St. Anthony of Padua in New Orleans. Following New Orleans, Fr. Steve was Associate Pastor at Holy Cross Parish in Atlanta for four years. From 1989-2000, Fr. Steve was the Pastor at St Elizabeth Church in Elizabethton, TN. Fr. Steve was then assigned to Raleigh, NC, where he served as Defender of the Bond and an Itinerant Preacher until 2012. For the next year, Fr. Steve ministered in Memphis, TN. Father Steve will be missed by many of the parishes, people he blessed, and all of the Pakistani families he sponsored to the US during his tenure in Pakistan. In 2013, Fr. Steve came to live at Our Lady of Wisdom Health Care Center in New Orleans where he would remain until his death. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Southern Dominican Province, 1421 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 200, Metairie, LA 70001. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass at 11:00 am on Friday, April 13, 2018, at Our Lady of Wisdom Nursing Home Chapel, 5600 General de Gaulle Drive, New Orleans, LA 70131. Visitation will be from 10:30 am until the time of the Mass. Interment will be in Rosaryville Cemetery. To view and sign the family guestbook, please visit www.schoenfh.com.