October 2, 2018

Updated – Father John L. Sullivan dies at 80; served in diocesan Tribunal

REGIONAL

SPRINGFIELD – Father John L. Sullivan, 80, died on Sept. 26.

Father Sullivan was born in Holyoke on June 24, 1938, the eldest child of the late John P. Sullivan and Leonie Montcalm Sullivan.  He attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Grammar School in Holyoke, graduated from Assumption Preparatory School in Worcester in 1955, and from Assumption College, also in Worcester, in 1959, including a Junior Year Abroad at the Institute Catholique de Paris in 1957-58.   Following his graduation, he taught French at Dracut High School in Dracut, Mass., for the academic year 1959-1960 and at Holyoke High School from 1960 to 1967, including a sabbatical year 1962-1963 as a Lay Volunteer with the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity in Santa Fe, New Mexico, founded by Father James Flanagan.   Having made the decision to join the priesthood, he entered the seminary at the American College in Louvain, Belgium, in 1967 and was ordained into the priesthood by the Bishop of Springfield, Christopher J. Weldon, on July 3, 1971. 

Father Sullivan served as a curate at the former Notre Dame Parish in Adams from 1971-1975 and at St. Rose de Lima Parish, Chicopee, from 1975-1978; and as an assistant at St. Theresa Parish, South Hadley from 1978-1980 and the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Chicopee, from 1980-1983.

He studied canon law at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and received his JCL degree on May 11, 1985.

He served in the diocesan Tribunal as defender of the bond, judge, judge in second instance, adjutant judicial vicar, and as judge and defender of the bond to the Provincial Court, Springfield Division.

Father Sullivan also served as chaplain at Mont Marie from 1990-1992 and at the Providence Motherhouse from 1994-1996. He also served as diocesan director of pro-life activities from 1996-1999.

He was administrator of the former St. Anthony Mission in Agawam from 1996-1998 and administrator of the former St. Joseph Parish, Springfield from 1998-2000 and was pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Springfield, from 2000-2005.

He retired on April 1, 2005 and subsequently served as spiritual director for the Apostolate of the Suffering.

Father Sullivan was predeceased by his brother Ulric R. Sullivan, of Greenwich, Connecticut, and is survived by his sisters, Leonie S. Watson, of Mountainview, New Jersey, Anne S. Burke and Mary Pat S. Donah, both of Holyoke, and his brother, Thomas C. Sullivan, of Longmeadow. He also leaves numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The wake for Father Sullivan will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 8:30 a.m. at St. Jerome Church 169 Hampden Street in Holyoke, followed by the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:30. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery, South Hadley, after the Mass. 

The Sullivan family would like to thank the staff at Mount Saint Vincent Nursing Home for the compassionate care they provided to Father during his time with them.

Barry Farrell Funeral Home in Holyoke is handling arrangements.