With both sadness and joy we report that our brother, Fr. Benedict M. Ahsley, O.P., died on Saturday, February 23 in Chicago, Illinois after a brief illness. Our Provincial Fr. Charles E. Bouchard, O.P., Socius Fr. Louis Morrone, O.P., and his Prior Fr. Michael Kyte, O.P. were with Fr. Ashley soon after he entered his journey to eternal life.
The funeral Mass for Benedict Ashley will be Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 12:00Noon at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish. Burial will be on Monday, March 4th.
Born: May 3, 1915
Professed: August 5, 1942 Ordained: June 4, 1948
Born To Eternal Life: February 23, 2013
Commenting on this remarkable friar soon after his death, Fr. Bouchard said, “We can do nothing but celebrate his fidelity, his scholarship and his love of the Church. He was at his computer – complaining that he needed a new inkjet cartridge – until just a few days ago.”
Memorial gifts may be made to the Ashley-O’Rourke Faculty Chair Fund in Health Care Mission at the Aquinas Institute of Theology, a ministry of the Province of St. Albert the Great. Named for Fr. Ashley and longtime Aquinas professor Fr. Kevin O’Rourke, O.P., the singular focus of this Initiative is to develop and deliver theological and spiritual formation programs and experiences for leaders in Catholic health care. Send memorial gifts to:
The Ashley-O’Rourke Faculty Chair Fund
Dominican Friars, Province of St. Albert the Great
2005 S. Ashland
Chicago, Illinois 60608
A few years ago, the University of Chicago, where Fr. Ashley began his studies in 1933, published a fascinating, brief biography of his life. Only a month ago, Fr. Ashley published his autobiography. Both can be found through the links below.
http://thecore.uchicago.edu/Summer2011/features/cloth-bound.shtml
