March 11, 2018

UPDATED OBITUARY: Father Daniel R. Foley

REGIONAL

SPRINGFIELD — Father Daniel R. Foley, 83, a priest of the Springfield Diocese Ordination Class of 1960, died March 11 in Springfield.

He was born in Holyoke on Jan. 7, 1935, son of the late John J. and Margaret (Kennedy) Foley, and was a native of St. Patrick Parish in South Hadley. He studied classics and philosophy at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., graduating in 1956. He studied theology at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, receiving his degree in 1960.

He was ordained to the priesthood by Springfield Bishop Christopher J. Weldon on May 28, 1960 at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield.

He served as chaplain at Mercy Hospital in Springfield from 1969 to 1970, and was diocesan director of hospitals from March 13, 1970 to Aug. 29, 1970. He also was appointed a notary in the Tribunal of the Springfield Diocese on March 13, 1970.

He studied at The Catholic University of America from 1970 to 1973, earning a canon law degree.

Father Foley served as an assistant pastor at Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Sheffield from June to October of 1960; at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Springfield from October 1960 to June 1967; at St. Agnes Parish in Dalton from June 1967 to March 1969. He served as an assistant pro-tem at Holy Rosary Parish in Holyoke from June 1973 to December 1975; and was in residence at the Providence Mother House in Holyoke from January 1975 to July 1977.

His numerous diocesan appointments included vice officialis from 1977 to 1982; judicial vicar from 1982 to 1995; Tribunal advocate; Bishop’s Commission for the Clergy from 1980 to 1983; diocesan consultor from 1982 to 1983; Commission for the Clergy from 1983 to 1986; and judge of the Tribunal for the Boston Second Instance.  He also served as dean of the Greater Holyoke Deanery from 1987 to 1996. He again served on the Bishop’s Commission for the Clergy from 1989 to 1996.

He served as judge to the Provincial Court, Springfield Division from 1989 to 1992; as presiding judge of the diocesan Tribunal from 1992 to 1994; as diocesan episcopal vicar from 2002 to 2004; on the Board of Consultors from 2003 to 2009; as promoter of justice; as judge of the Tribunal from 2005 to 2008; and was appointed to the Presbyteral Council from 2012-2014. He was elected to the Presbyteral Council for two three-year terms, serving from 2003 to 2005 and from 2006 to 2008. He also served with the Diocesan Review Board.

Father Foley served as pastor of St. Casimir Parish in Westfield from 1977 to 1987 and as pastor of St. Jerome Parish in Holyoke from 1987 to 2005. He had been in residence after retiring at the former St. Michael’s Priests’ Residence on Wendover Road in Springfield, then after the tornado in 2011 moved into St. Michael’s Cathedral Rectory in Springfield.

He was a recipient in 2012 of St. Thomas More Award given by the Catholic legal profession the St. Thomas More Society.

He is survived by a brother, David R. Foley, and his wife, Annette, of Holyoke,;a sister-in-law, Elaine Foley, of South Hadley; and many nieces and nephews and their families. He was predeceased by a brother, John M. Foley.

Visitation will be held Thursday, March 15 in St. Patrick Chapel of St. Jerome Church, 169 Hampden Street, Holyoke, from 4-7 p.m., with a vigil service at 6:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in St. Jerome Church. Burial will take place in St. Jerome Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Father Foley’s memory to St. Jerome Parish, 169 Hampden Street, Holyoke, MA 01040.