The funeral Mass for Father Francis C. Brennan, SJ, was celebrated Jan. 19 at St. Francis Xavier College Church in St. Louis. Father Brennan died Jan. 11 in St. Louis. He was 91 years old, a Jesuit for 73 years and a priest for 60 years.
Born Sept. 8, 1927, in St. Louis, he graduated from St. Louis University High School and entered the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) on Aug. 8, 1945, at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant. He was ordained a priest at St. Mary’s College in St. Mary’s, Kan., on June 18, 1958. He pronounced final vows on Aug. 15, 1962 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Father Brennan earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, a licentiate in philosophy and a licentiate in sacred theology, all from Saint Louis University. He also earned a master’s of arts from Marquette University, and a doctorate in English from the University of North Carolina.
He spent the first part of his ministry in higher education. He served at SLU (1965-74) as English teacher and then dean of the graduate school; at Xavier University in Cincinnati (1974-82) as academic vice-president; and then in Honolulu as superior at the Newman Center (1982-86).
The second part of his apostolic life was in pastoral work. He served at White House Retreat in St. Louis (1987-91), as pastor at St. Mark Parish in Houston (1991-96), and as pastor at St. Cecelia Church in Kennett, Mo. (1997-99). He returned to academic pursuits as associate editor at the Institute of Jesuit Sources (1999-2007). Beginning in 2007, he engaged in pastoral ministry and praying for the Church and the Society, from Jesuit Hall in St. Louis.
He is survived by a brother, Dennis, and sisters Moira Brennan and Emily Maull. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis.
