Alfred Augustine Gately, O.P.
Jubilarian
Birth: April 6, 1913
Profession: August 16, 1935
Ordination: June 5, 1941
Died: April 7, 2000
Alfred Peter Gately was born in New York City to Bernard and Elizabeth (Cregan) Gately. He was educated at St. John the Evangelist Grammar School in that city (1921-28).
As an aspirant to the Order he spent his high school years at Aquinas College High School in Columbus, OH (1928-32). From here he became a pre-ecclesiastical student at Guzman Hall, Providence College, Providence, RI (1932-34). In the summer of 1934 Alfred was clothed in the Dominican habit at St. Rose Priory, Springfield, KY receiving the name Augustine. The following year he made his simple profession there. He spent the next four years (1935-39) at the Dominican House of Studies at River Forest, IL where he studied philosophy and one year of theology. He continued his theological training at St. Joseph Priory, Somerset, OH (1939-40) and the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC (1940-42). It was in this city at St. Dominic church that Fr. Gately was ordained a priest by Archbishop Michael Curley, Archbishop of Baltimore, MD.
With the exception of one year (1944-45) as an auxiliary chaplain at Nichols General Army Hospital in Louisville, KY. Fr. Gately spent his whole active priestly ministry of fifty-four years serving in the following parishes: Holy Name of Jesus, Valhalla, NY (1942-43); St. Dominic, Youngstown, OH (1943-44); St. Mary, Augusta, GA (1945-46); St. Peter, Memphis, TN (1946-47); St. Catherine of Siena, NYC, NY (1947-54); Holy Innocents, Pleasantville, NY (1954-72); St. Antoninus, Newark, NJ (1972-74); St. Catherine of Siena, NYC, NY (1975-87). Here he served as prior of the Community from 1981-87. After finishing his term as prior he was assigned for six months to Holy Name of Jesus, Valhalla, NY and then to St. Vincent Ferrer, New York City (1987-96).
Due to failing health Fr. Gately was assigned to the Province’s Assisted Living Center at St. Dominic Priory, Washington, DC (1996-98). As his health deteriorated further, he was sent to the skilled nursing care unit at Mohun Hall at St. Mary of the Springs, in Columbus, OH.
It was here that he died one day after his 87th birthday. The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated there by the Provincial, Fr. Norman A. Haddad, with the homily preached by Fr. James J. Sullivan; O.P. Burial was at St. Joseph Cemetery, Somerset, OH.