John James Sullivan, O.P.

John James Sullivan, O.P.

Jubilarian

Birth: June 5, 1911

Profession: August 16, 1933

Ordination: May 17, 1939

Died: March 28, 2001

John Joseph Sullivan was born in New York City, the son of Patrick and Margaret (Ryan) Sullivan. He attended St. Veronica Grammar School (1918-1925) and Regis High School (1925-1926) in that city. This was followed by study at Aquinas College High School in Columbus, Ohio (1926-1930). Upon graduation, he studied at Providence College (1930-1932).

He entered the novitiate of St. Joseph Province on August 15, 1932 at St. Rose Priory, Springfield, KY receiving the religious name, James. It was here he made his religious profession a year later. He studied philosophy at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, IL from 1933-1936.  He received the major part of his theological studies at St. Joseph Priory, Somerset, OH (1936-1939) and where James Joseph Hartley, Bishop of Columbus, OH, ordained him. Since this ordination was held here rather than in Washington, DC, this ordination class called themselves “The Lost Battalion”. He completed his studies at the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC (1939-1940).

Fr. Sullivan, a.k.a. “Hard Times”, spent the greater part of his 61 priestly years on the Mission Band of the province serving as the “Caput” of the Central Band from 1968-1971). The only exception to these years was the time he spent as Prior and Pastor at St. Catherine of Siena Priory, New York (1959-1965). While serving on the “Band” he was stationed at the following locations: Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC (1941-1943); Holy Name Priory, Philadelphia, PA (1943-1945); St. Thomas Rectory, Zanesville, OH (1945-1949); Sacred Heart Priory, Jersey City, NJ (1949-1959, 1965-1968); St. Pius Priory, Providence, RI (1968); St. Dominic Rectory, Detroit, MI (1968-1971); St. Vincent Ferrer Priory, NYC (1971-1975); St. Antoninus Priory, Newark, NJ (1974-1975); Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC (1975-1980); St. Catherine of Siena Priory, NYC (1980-1987); St. Vincent Ferrer Priory, NYC (1987-2001). It was here that he died suddenly.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Vincent Ferrer Priory by the Very Rev. Norman A. Haddad, O.P., Provincial. The homilist was Fr. Terence Quinn, O.P. He was buried at the Dominican plot in All Souls Cemetery, Pleasantville, NY

All Soul's CemeteryNew York CityRegis High SchoolSt. Catherine of Siena