In Memoriam: Paulist Fr. William Dougherty (1930 – 2016)

March 14, 2016
Paulist Fr. Bill Dougherty recent A recent portrait of Fr. William Dougherty, CSP

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our brother, Paulist Fr. William Dougherty, on Wednesday, February 24, in Tucson, Arizona, where he had resided for several years. Fr. Bill’s funeral was held Wednesday, March 1, at Tucson’s St. Pius X Church where he had assisted.

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A memorial Mass and the burial of Fr. Bill’s remains will take place in Philadelphia in April.  (The date will be announced shortly.) In addition to the Paulist Fathers, Fr. Bill is survived by his sister, Dorothy; his brother, Jack; many nieces and nephews; and extended family. Fr. Bill was born in 1930 to George and Dorothy Dougherty in southwest Philadelphia, one of six siblings.  Fr. Bill and his family attended Most Blessed Sacrament Church. After graduating from high school, Fr. Dougherty worked at a bank before joining the U.S. Air Force.  Fr. Dougherty then studied philosophy at LaSalle University in Philadelphia before deciding to pursue the priesthood. He finished his collegiate career at St. Paul’s College in Washington, D.C. He was ordained a Paulist Father on May 11, 1963. Click here to read Fr. Bill’s obituary.

Paulist Fr. Bill Dougherty in habit A young Fr. Bill in the Paulist habit

During his 52 years as a Paulist Father, Fr. Bill served at: – Good Shepherd Parish in Inwood, NYC – St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Richardson, TX – St. Mark’s University Parish at UC Santa Barbara – St. Thomas More Newman Center in Columbus, OH – The Paulist Center, Boston, MA – Newman Apostolate (now the University Catholic Center) in Austin, TX – St. Cyril’s Church in Tucson, AZ – St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Horseshoe Bay, TX – St. Pius X Parish in Tucson, AZ We pray in thanksgiving for Fr. Bill’s vocation and his service to the People of God.

 

From St. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy: ” … I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. … “  

Paulist Fr. Bill Dougherty ordinationPaulist Fr. Bill Dougherty giving blessings on the day of his ordination, May 11, 1963 at the Church of Saint Paul The Apostle in New York.