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Rev. Luke J. Sweeney, O.S.A. (1907 - 1974)

Rev. Luke J. Sweeney, O.S.A. entered eternal life July 2, 1974.

Luke Joseph Sweeney was born August 2, 1907 in Plains, Pennsylvania to James and Isabel (Gallagher) Sweeney. He was Baptized August 11, 1907 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Plains. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation July 10, 1921 in the same church.

After completing his high school education at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, Luke was received into the Augustinian Novitiate August 15, 1926. He professed simple (temporary) vows in the Order of St. Augustine August 16, 1927 and solemn (permanent) vows August 16, 1930. He earned a B. A. in Philosophy from Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1930. He then purused theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C. He was ordained a Priest June 13, 1933. He was in 1934 awarded an M. A. in Education by Catholic University of America, Washington.

Father Sweeney was assigned to St. Thomas of Villanova High School, Ojai, California, in 1934. In 1938 he was transferred to St. Rita High School, Chicago, Illinois. When the new Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel (Augustinians of the Midwest) was formed in 1941, Father Sweeney bacame affiliated to that Province.

He was assigned in 1941 to St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic Parish, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, where he was Assistant Pastor. In 1944 he was transferred to St. Rita Catholic Parish, Chicago, as Assistant Pastor. In 1965 he was assigned to St. Joseph Mission House, Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he worked on compiling the history of the Augustinians of the Midwest.

Father Sweeney returned to pastoral ministry in 1966, when he was named the first Augustinian Pastor of St. Anthony Catholic Parish, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Two years later, in 1968, he became Pastor of St. Augustine Catholic Parish, Detroit, Michigan. In 1972, because of ill health, he retired to Austin Friary, Detroit, where he was residing at the time of his death July 2, 1974.

He is remembered as a people-orientated person and a good listener who enjoyed the trust of others. His favorite passage from the Bible, the parable of the Prodigal Son, was reflected in his attutude of openness to everyone. He was particularly concerned with ministry to children of all ages and for the needs of the elderly.

He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be made to Augustinian Guild, Tolentine Center, 20300 Governors Hwy., Olympia Fields, IL 60461-1081.