Fr. James D. Dwyer

Fr. James Daniel Dwyer was born in Dorchester MA on December 9, 1932. His parents were Daniel Dwyer and Helen McHugh Dwyer, members of St. William's Parish, Dorchester, MA. Jim attended St. William's Grade School and Cathedral High School Boston before joining the Columban formation program. He attended Columban seminaries in the United States and Ireland. His ordination took place on December 20, 1958 at the Columban Major Seminary Chapel in Milton MA by Most Rev. Eric MacKenzie, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston.

Jim first served in Mindanao, Philippines from October 1959 to February 1975. While there he was stationed in Ozamis, in Aurora Zamboanga, in Lanipao (Lala), in St. Michael's Iligan, in Tangub, in Jimenez and in Bacolod, Lanao del Sur.

Jim was then assigned to the United States Region for promotion‑vocation work in West Chester, PA. There he also became involved with the Marriage Encounter Movement. Toward the end of 1978, he volunteered to join the United States Naval Chaplain Corps. He was stationed in various locations as a Navy Chaplain until November 1991. Among the places he served were Guam, the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton WA, Key West FL, Iwakuni, Japan, Norfolk, VA, and the Submarine Base, New London, Groton, CT. During his time in the Navy, Jim did a Clinical Pastoral Counselling Course at Loyola College.

In 1992 he was appointed to the Columban House on Magnolia Avenue, Chicago, IL where he later also served as Vicar. In October 1995 Jim went to the Columban House in Quincy, MA. In December of that year, Jim went to St. Anne's Parish, Wollaston, MA to be nearby his mother who was in her 92nd year. In February 1997, Jim went to the Columban house in Kew Gardens, NY, and in March he was appointed Superior there. In March 2002, Jim was appointed Superior of the Retirement House at Bristol, RI. He assisted at many local parishes in the Providence Diocese.

Fr. Jim was preceded in death by his siblings Richard Dwyer and John Dwyer.

He will be dearly missed by his sister, Maureen Bennett (Falmouth),  and his brothers, Daniel Dwyer (Falmouth) and Michael Dwyer (Melrose),  many nieces and nephews,  and his Columban community.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, September 4th, 11 AM at the Columban Fathers Chapel, 65 Ferry Road, Bristol. Visitation will be between 10-11 AM. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in Fr. Jim Dwyer’s memory to the Columban Fathers, 65 Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809

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