Monsignor Doug Hennessy

1938 - 2025

Monsignor Doug Hennessy

February 21, 1938 - November 12, 2025

Monsignor Doug Hennessy, 87, of Bloomington, died Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 17, 2025, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Bloomington. The Most Reverend Louis Tylka, D.D., Bishop of Peoria will celebrate the Mass. Visitation will be from 3:00-7:00 p.m., Sunday, November 16, 2025, at the church. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington is assisting with arrangements.

Doug was born on February 21, 1938, the son of Harry and Mary O'Connor Hennessy at St. Joseph's Hospital in Bloomington, Illinois. He graduated from Trinity Grade and High School and attended Notre Dame University for two years before entering the seminary and graduating from St. Ambrose in Davenport, Iowa. He completed his preparation for the priesthood at the North American College in Rome and received Bachelor's and a Licentiate degree in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria at the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Rome on July 14, 1963. Returning to the diocese he served as an Associate Pastor at St. Paul's Church in Macomb for three years. He then returned to school at Fordham University in New York, receiving an M.A. in Religious Education in 1968. Upon his return to the diocese, he served as the Diocesan Director Religious Education through the summer of 1977. Later he served as pastor at St. Patrick's Church, Urbana, St. Paul's Church in Danville and Holy Trinity in Bloomington. He also returned to the North American College where he served as part of the Formation Faculty for five years.

Doug also served briefly as diocesan Vocation Director, on the Presbyteral Council of the diocese and on the Personnel Board of the diocese for several terms. With Fr. Dick Bresnahan and later Fr. Tony Lee, he served as a co-moderator of Social Justice for the diocese for seven years and also served on the Diocesan Catholic Charities Board. He retired as pastor of Holy Trinity and from active ministry on July 14, 2013, the 50th anniversary of his ordination

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Marilyn Hennessy, and by many great priests and sisters who added so much to his life and priestly ministry.

He is survived by his sister, Eileen Griffin, his niece, Sheila and his nephews, Jim (Ester) Griffin, Martin (Rachael) Griffin, Paul (Vanni) Griffin and Dan Griffin, and his great-nephews and great-niece. He is also survived by countless people who allowed him to serve them as a priest. He died immensely grateful to them and for the gift of the ordained priestly ministry he was called to live.

Should anyone wish to make a memorial gift, they could direct it to Holy Trinity Parish or to Corpus Christi Grade School or Central Catholic High School, all in Bloomington To share a memory or express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.