Fr. Thomas Bernard Butler O. Carm.

1926 - 2023

The Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary (PCM), Order of Carmelites, mourns the death of the Reverend Thomas Butler, O. Carm., who died at the age of 97 on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Rosary and viewing for Reverend Thomas Butler, O. Carm., will be at 5:30 pm on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, 5150 North Valley View Road, Tucson, AZ, 85718. Funeral Mass will be held the following day, Friday, June 16, 2023, at 10:00 am, also at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. Immediately following Mass, interment will be at Holy Hope Cemetery, 3555 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705, immediately followed by a reception at Salpointe Catholic High School, 1545 E Copper St, Tucson, AZ 85719.

Thomas was born to (the late) Patrick Burnard Butler and (the late) Regina Ruth(Bradshaw) Butler on February 17, 1926, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His given name at baptism was Thomas Burnard Butler. He is predeceased by his brothers Paul, Jim, Jack, Patrick, and Edward, and his sister Mary Regina. He is survived by his sister, Catherine Mooney. Fr. Tom attended St. Paul Cathedral Grade School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; St. Boniface Grade School in Penn Station, Pennsylvania; and St. Francis de Sales Grade School in McKee's Rocks, Pennsylvania. He attended the Carmelite Junior Seminary in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and afterwards entered the Carmelite Novitiate in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania. He professed simple vows as a Carmelite on August 15, 1944, taking the religious name of Aidan. Afterwards, he studied philosophy at Mount Carmel College in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and then made his solemn profession with the Carmelites on September 28, 1947. He attended Whitefriars Hall and the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he studied theology. Thomas was ordained a Carmelite priest on June 6, 1950. He made further studies at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, New York, and the University of Arizona, in Tucson, Arizona. Father Thomas' first assignment was in 1951 as teacher and assistant athletic director at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. In 1956 he was assigned as teacher and athletic director at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Arizona. In 1963 he served as associate pastor at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish in North Hollywood, California, for a year. In 1964 he became associate pastor at St. Cecilia Parish, as well as a teacher and athletic director at St. Cecilia High School in Englewood, New Jersey. In 1966 he returned to Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, serving as teacher and athletic director until 1969. He then taught at Crespi Carmelite High Schoolin Encino, California for a year, and then became associate pastor at St. Leo Parish in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In 1975, Father Thomas became associate pastor for two years at St. AlbertParish in Houston, Texas, and then moved to St. Bernadette Parish in Houston in 1977, first serving as associate pastor until 1984, and then serving as the pastor until 1996. Afterwards, he became parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Louisville, Kentucky, where he served for two years. In 1998, he retired to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Priory in Tucson, Arizona, where he remained until his death. May he rest in peace. For further information on the Reverend Thomas Butler, O. Carm., or the Order of Carmelites, please contact Carmelite Media at (630) 971-0724 or visit the Carmelite website at www.carmelites.net .