Rev. Valentine Ambrose "Val" McInnes

McINNES Fr. Valentine "Val" Ambrose McInnes, O.P. 1929-2011 Ambrose McInnes was born in London, Ontario, Canada on April 21, 1929. He died peacefully on Tuesday, November 22, 2011. He entered the St. Albert the Great Province in 1954 in Winonona, Minnesota at St. Peter Martyr Priory. On Nov. 18, 1955 he professed Simple Vows and was given the religious name, Valentine. At the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 18, 1959, he professed Solemn Vows. He was ordained to the Priesthood on June 3, 1961. He became a member of the Province of St. Martin de Porres when it was founded in 1979. Throughout his life, he earned many degrees and honors, including, an Honors B.A., PhB, Ph.L and a Ph.D. He was awarded the UNESCO Scholarship to study International Law at the International Court in The Hague and the Canova Medal in honor of his work on the Vatican Pavilion, 1984 Louisiana World Exposition. Two of the last awards he received were the St. Martin de Porres Award and the St. Dominic Medal. Fr. Val was as a Lecturer in Theology at St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. He served later as Chairman of the Philosophy and Theology Department and Associate Director of the Newman Apostolate, King's College, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario. From 1966-1970, he was the Director at the Tulane Catholic Center in New Orleans; and was o the Founding Pastor of St. Thomas More University Parish at Tulane. He served as a Lecturer at Tulane Medical School, on Human Values and Decision-Making in Medicine and Psychology Psychiatry and Medical Ethics until 1982. He served as a Consultant for the Tulane School of Architecture on Contemporary Ecclesiastical French Art and Architecture and Examiner, Master of Fine Arts, School of Art, New-comb College. From 1970-1978, he was an Instructor in An Introduction to the Bible - Biblical Theology; The Spirituality of Thomas Merton; DeChardin's Theology; Archaeology of the Holy Land and Roman Catholic Biblical Renewal. He was also serving as Chair of Judeo-Christian Studies at Tulane where he was the Founder, Director and Executive Secretary since 1979. Besides teaching at Tulane, Val also taught from 1975-1979 as a Homiletics Professor at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, LA. He served as Prior of St. Anthony of Padua Priory and St. Dominic Priory, both in New Orleans. From 1981-1984, he was the Director of the New Orleans Vatican Pavilion, Louisiana World's Exhibition. Val was the Promoter of Development for the Province of St. Martin de Porres from 1985-2000 and continued as a consultant in Development up until his death. At the time of his death, Val was serving as a Chaplain for the Southern Commandery of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, Senior Chaplain, Grand Priory of America, Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, USA and Chaplain Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Southern Lieutenancy, US Val was also the founder and first President of the Patrons of the Vatican Museums in the South. He served as President of the International Dominican Foundation and National Coordinator for the International Campaign for Global Priorities for the Order of Preachers. Fr. Val is survived by a brother, James A. McInnes; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Clair McInnes and Mrs. Angus McInnes; nieces and nephews, Mrs. Marilyn (Joseph) Calderone, Carole Anne McInnes, Mr. Richard Coles, and Mr. & Mrs. Gordon (Beverly) Coles and was preceded in death by his parents, Angus and Genevieve Rodgers McInnes; sister and brothers, John McInnes, Rosemary McInnes Coles, Angus Joseph McInnes, Jr., and Patrick McInnes. Visitation will be at ST. DOMINIC CHURCH, 775 HARRISON AVENUE, NEW ORLEANS on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 between the hours of 6:30 P.M and 9:30 P.M. Visitation will resume on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 from 9:30 A.M. to 10.45 A.M. The Funeral Mass will follow 11:00 A.M. Interment will be in the Dominican Friars Cemetery, Rosaryville (near Ponchatoula), Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Dominican Retirement Fund, 1421 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 200, Metairie, LA 70001, preferred. Arrangements by Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed on line at www.schoencanalstreet.com