Fr. James Duffy (Long time Spiritual Father of iveta and Felix Fernandes, Canada.(1926 – 2014) Past into Eternity on the 25th December 2014.
“ On December 1st 2014 iveta received the word as in a
message from Our lady that Rev Fr. Jim Duffy would be going home to God and
other instructions. On December 25th iveta experienced the Agony of
her Spiritual Father before his last
breathe. .A Priest in the fullness of his calling. Amen.)
He prayed diligently
for Our Lady’s intention daily. Amen.
Briefly to touch who he was and our future Saint in Heaven. Amen.
Fr. James Duffy, priest of Madonna House Apostolate, died peacefully on
December 25, 2014 at Our Lady of the Visitation – St. Mary’s in Combermere, ON.
In May of this year he celebrated 58 years of Priesthood.
Fr. Jim was born on May 24, 1926 in Fond du Lac, WI to F. Ryan and
Louise (Haydon) Duffy. He attended grade school in Washington, DC and high
school in Milwaukee, WI. In 1944 he joined the US Navy as a Third Class Petty
Officer Radio Man. After discharge in 1946 he entered Marquette University,
transferred to the University of Wisconsin and graduated in 1949.
In May 1950, he entered St. Francis Seminary in South Milwaukee, WI and
was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1956. Over the years he had various
parish assignments in that diocese. From 1962 – 1968 he was Archdiocesan
Director of the Papal Volunteer Program which sent missionaries to South
America, West Indies and Home Missions.
His
first contact with Madonna House came in May 1960 when he invited Catherine
Doherty to speak at a Lay Information Day at Marquette University. For a number
of years afterwards he taught classes on Our Lady at the Summer Schools
held at Madonna House, Combermere, ON.
On August 22, 1963 he joined as an Associate Priest and in August 1967
he became a full time member of Madonna House. He served as
chaplain of Marian Centre, Regina, SK. where he introduced the Charismatic
Renewal to Western Canada. From 1970 – 1979 he was assigned as chaplain to
Madonna House, Carriacou, Grenada, W.I. He spent many years along with
other leaders establishing the Charismatic Renewal throughout the Caribbean,
where he was fondly known as the Father of the Renewal. In May 1980 he was
appointed to initiate the Pre-Seminarian Program at Madonna House, Combermere.
In October 1993 he was assigned chaplain to Madonna House Toronto, where he
served until his death.
He is predeceased by his parents and three siblings Ann Duffy (Duffy),
F. Ryan Jr. and Haydon. He is survived by his in-laws, Joseph Duffy and
Marie Therese Duffy. Also left to mourn Fr. Jim are his nieces and nephews:
Shatzi (a member of Madonna House), Kevin & spouse Sharon, Marc, Mara,
Seamus & spouse Suzanne and Ryan Duffy as well as great-nephew Wyeth James
and great-nieces Kate and Claire. He is remembered lovingly by his Madonna
House family and many friends, especially those in Toronto and the West
Indies.
Wake services were held on January 2 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Madonna
House, St. Mary’s Chapel with a prayer service at 8pm. A Mass of Christian
Burial was celebrated on January 3 at 11am at St. Mary’s chapel, with
internment at the Madonna House cemetery. A reception followed.
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