Fr. Jim, better known as “Chief,” to many who loved him, was born September 23, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois to John (Lawrence) and Dorothy (Schnitker) McDonough. He was baptized on October 12, 1930, at St. Andrew’s Church in Chicago and attended high school at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois.
Fr. James (Jim) A. McDonough, OP, beloved Dominican priest, uncle, and friend began his new life in Christ peacefully on June 8, 2022.
Fr. Jim was first introduced to the Dominican Order as a student at St. Mary’s college in Winona, MN. His relationship with the Dominicans continued after college when he and his brother returned home to help with the family’s typewriter business after their father lost his eyesight. Two of Fr. Jim’s largest accounts were St. Pius Catholic Church and Fenwick High School, each of which has Dominican ties. Fr. Jim entered the novitiate for the St. Albert the Great Province in 1955 in Winona, MN. After professing simple and solemn vows in August 1956 and 1959, he was ordained to the priesthood at St. Rose of Lima Priory in Dubuque, IA, on June 2, 1962, and celebrated his 60th Jubilee on June 2, 2022.
Fr. Jim’s first assignment as a priest was as Assistant Professor of Humanities at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX. He taught logic and Philosophy, Christology and Ecclesiology for four years. Then, after a brief two-year stint as Associate Director at St. Albert Catholic Student Center at Southeast Louisiana University, Fr. Jim moved back to Austin, where he would remain the rest of his life.
Upon returning to Austin, Fr. Jim became involved in the Travis County adult probation system. He specialized in working with people who suffered from drug and alcohol abuse. After eight years, he became the Program Director of the newly created State Commission of Adult Probation, eventually leading him to be the Executive Director of the state probation agency.
Father Jim “retired” after working 22 years in the probation system to become the Director of the Southern Dominican Global Mission for the Southern Province. After his work for the Dominican Global Mission, Fr. Jim’s dear friend Msgr. Richard McCabe introduced him to Dr. Coury, Head of School for St. Michael’s Catholic Academy. Dr. Coury invited Fr. Jim to be chaplain of St. Michael’s, a ministry he held for ten years. Fr. Jim spent the last three years of active ministry as the Chaplain at St. Gabriel’s Catholic School.
Fr. Jim touched the lives of many, from children to college students and those stuck in the vicious cycle of the prison system. He was a man of God and an advocate for the lost and downtrodden. He lifted people with his wisdom and humor. He will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him.
Fr. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Robert F. McDonough, and his sister-in-law, Barbara (McDonough) Gauer. He is a beloved uncle to Mary (Randy) Johnson, Nancy (David) Huber, Peggy (Glenn) Siegele, Robert P. McDonough, and Molly (Tim) Simmermon. He was also loved by many great-nieces and nephews, nine great-great nieces and members of the Dominican family.
The funeral services for Fr. Jim will be on Friday, June 17, 2022, in Austin, TX:
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
9:00 AM Visitation
10:00 AM Funeral Mass followed by burial at Assumption Cemetery
In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to the Southern Dominican Province, P.O. Box 8129, New Orleans, LA 70182
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