 Fr. Bernard Patrick Condon, OP
Born in County Tipperary in the village of Clonmel, Bernard Patrick Condon began his life
during a very troubled time in Ireland, which was then struggling for liberation from its
subjection to England. Young Patrick was a
courier for Earnon de Valera in the fight for Irish freedom.
His older brother, James, emigrated to the United States, and, after
becoming a U.S. citizen, sent for his younger brother.
Their sister emigrated to Spain, and the Condon brothers settled in San
Francisco.
After working in San Francisco
for a few years, Patrick attended Drew School to further his knowledge of Latin, in the
hope of entering the seminary. He was accepted
as a Dominican novice in 1936, and made his first profession in 1938 at Ross to then
Provincial Very Reverend Leonard Callaghan, O. P. Brother
Bernard continued his studies at St. Albert’s Priory
in Oakland, and made solemn profession in 1940. After
ordination, he became an Assistant Pastor at Holy Rosary, Portland, serving three years
there.
Showing promise as a preacher and as a director of Sisters, he was assigned to the task
of retreat master for Sisters and also gave retreats for the laity with great success. In 1948, he was elected Prior of the Dominican
Novitiate in Ross, Marin County, where he was esteemed for his kindness and charity. He later served as Assistant Pastor at Holy Rosary,
Antioch, for four years, and became Pastor of the new church in 1966.
When he completed his assignment there, Fr. Condon became Pastor of Our Lady of
Limerick in Glenns Ferry, Idaho. In spite of
failing health, he continued to serve the Church in the northwest, with his last parish
located in Republic, Washington. An exemplary
Dominican and priest, he served the Church to the very end of his life, dedicated to the
service of the people he deeply loved and in their desire to be nourished with the
authentic teaching of Christ and his Church. He
died peacefully in his sleep the night of August 21, 1986, and is buried with his
Dominican brethren in St. Dominic Cemetery, Benicia.
--Fr. Joseph P. Sanguinetti |
