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(Fairhaven, MA) Fr. William B.
Davis, ss.cc., died at Sacred
Heart Home, New Bedford, Mass., on March 13, 2007. He was born
October 9, 1919 to William B. Davis and Julia (Livings) Davis in
Rochester, New York. He is mourned by his religious family of the
Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, his sister,
Mrs. Rita Walton Heagney, his sister-in law, Mrs.
Rita Vick Davis, of Rochester, New York, as well as six nieces
and six nephews. He was pre-deceased by a nephew, Billy
Davis, and by his
brother, Daniel Davis.
Father Davis entered the Congregation of
the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
(SS.CC.) in
1938, after attending St. Salomes Elementary School and St. Andrew's
Seminary in Rochester, New York.
He was
ordained May 18, 1944 at Holy Trinity Chapel, in Washington, D.C.
Father studied Canon Law at Catholic University in 1945 and received
his licentiate in 1947. Serving the Church and his community in
many capacities, he is particularly remembered as an educator,
having taught generations of seminarians. In 1950, he was appointed
the Superior of the Congregation’s seminary in Washington, D.C.
which, under his leadership, moved to Queen of Peace Seminary in
Jaffrey, New Hampshire.
In September 1967, at the request of
Bishop Fulton Sheen of the Diocese of Rochester, New York, Father
Davis became the first religious pastor of the inner city parish,
Saints Peter and Paul, where he remained until 1972. He then served
until 1977 at Holy Trinity Church in W. Harwich, Mass., with a
mission parish in Dennisport, Mass.
Throughout his years as a vowed religious and priest, Father Davis
served his community in leadership positions for over a decade,
first as vicar provincial. In January 1977, he was elected to serve
as provincial. Traveling widely, he went twice to India to visit
two SS.CC.
religious
brothers who were working under the sponsorship of
Blessed
Mother Teresa.
Father Davis returned to parish work in
the mid 1980’s, after completing a sabbatical year in Mexico City to
learn Spanish. He was assigned to the USA Eastern Province Missions
in South Texas and in Hidalgo, Texas at Sacred Heart.
Until recently, Father Davis, a
self-proclaimed “people-person”, resided with the SS.CC.
community at Damien Residence in
Fairhaven, Mass. Father Bill will long be remembered among the
members of his community, not simply as their seminary teacher, but
as their religious brother who shared with them the gifts of his
call to religious life and priesthood in the Congregation of the
Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Funeral
arrangements are being made by Fairhaven Funeral Home. Visiting
hours will be Friday, March 16, from
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Damien Residence, 73 Adams Street, Fairhaven.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March
17, at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph Church, Adams Street, Fairhaven.
Burial will be at the SS.CC. Community Cemetery located on the
Provincial grounds in Fairhaven. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made in Fr. Bill’s memory to Sacred Hearts
Missions, 77 Adams Street, Fairhaven, Mass. 02719-011. |
