Father Paul Joseph Bernadicou

1933 - 2021

Father Paul Joseph Bernadicou, S.J.
Los Gatos - Feb. 18, 1933 - Dec. 10. 2020
Father Paul Joseph Bernadicou, S.J., university theology professor and spiritual director, died in his sleep of natural causes on December 10, 2020 at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos. He was 87 years of age and had been a Jesuit for 68 years.
Paul was born in Stockton, CA on February 18, 1933, the son of Paul Bernadicou and Anna Lucq Bernadicou. He graduated from St. Mary's High School, Stockton, and attended Santa Clara University for two years before entering the Jesuit novitiate in 1952 to study for the priesthood.
Paul's studies included Gonzaga University (MA in English, 1961), Regis College in Toronto (MA in theology, 1966) and the Gregorian University, Rome (doctorate in spiritual theology, 1970). He was ordained a priest June 4, 1965, in St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco. He then did a year of spiritual theology at Paray-le-Monial in France (1966-1967).
Before ordination, Paul taught English and French at Bellarmine College Prep, San Jose (1959-1961). After completing his studies, he taught theology and religious studies at the University of San Francisco (1970-2000). Paul also served as Rector of the Jesuit communities of USF and Loyola Marymount University.
Paul's ministry also included guiding Jesuits during their final stage of formation as director of the California Province tertianship program, chaplain and instructor in Gonzaga University's program in Florence, Italy, spiritual director for priests at the Cardinal Manning House of Prayer in Los Angeles, and as pastoral assistant at St. Agnes Church in San Francisco. He retired to Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in 2015 for a ministry of prayer.
Paul is survived by his brother, Louis (Dianne) Bernadicou and sister Jeannette Vandenberg. He is predeceased by his sisters Madeleine (Bill) Lynch, Doris (Pat) McGuire and Irene (Tupper) Petitt and nephews William Lynch and John Gregory Vandenberg. He is also survived by twelve nieces and nephews: Paul Lynch, Byron and Ann Vandenberg, Annette, John, Michael, Peter and Elizabeth Bernadicou, Frank, Stewart and Laura McGuire and Justin Petitt as well as twenty-four great nieces and nephews who will miss him for his example of deep faith in God's love and presence in our lives. Because of Covid-19 restrictions a private funeral mass was held at Sacred Heart Jesuit Community on January 30, 2021.