Print Issue: January 2, 2003

Well-Known Priests, Religious In Archdiocese Died In 2002

Msgr. Louis Naughton Sister Teresa Termini, CSJ Dom Augustine Moore, OCSO Father Jim Babb, SJ Father Corentine Finnegan, OCSO Madeleine Cornell

ATLANTA - Among those who died in 2002 are the following people:

Father Larry Hein, SJ, beloved spiritual director at Ignatius House, the Jesuit retreat center, in post-Vatican II years from 1961-77, was remembered in a memorial Mass Feb. 4 at Ignatius House. He died Dec. 22, 2001 at 80 in New Orleans.

Sister Terese Matthews, GNSH, died in Langhorne, Pa., on Jan. 21 at 86. An artist, Sister Matthews lived with the Grey Nuns in the Archdiocese of Atlanta from 1992-2000, selling her paintings and cards.

Msgr. Louis Naughton, judicial vicar for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, died of pancreatic cancer March 16 at 64. A native of Ireland, Msgr. Naughton was ordained in 1971. Over 125 priests of the archdiocese concelebrated his funeral Mass with Archbishop John F. Donoghue at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, March 19.

Sister Teresa Termini, CSJ, founder of Catholic Social Services Services to the Elderly and promoter of the Catholic Personal Care Homes in the archdiocese, died in St. Louis, Mo., on March 17 following a stroke. She was 84. In the archdiocese, she served as the director for CSS's outreach to the elderly from 1977-89. Prior to that, she served as director of the Village of St. Joseph, Atlanta, for seven years, beginning in 1969. A memorial Mass in the Archdiocese of Atlanta was celebrated April 21 at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Atlanta, by Father John Adamski.

Sister Roberta Joseph Sutton, CSJ, Catholic school teacher, and worker with the poor elderly throughout Atlanta and the metropolitan area, died June 3 at the Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis, Mo. She was 89. A tireless advocate for the elderly, she worked for Catholic Social Services, Inc. from 1977 until the 1990s. She also taught at the former Sacred Heart School, Atlanta, in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and at St. Anthony School, Atlanta, in 1957.

Dom Augustine Moore, OCSO, retired abbot of the Abbey of Our Lady of Holy Spirit, Conyers, died June 5 at 90. A native of Louisville, Ky., he served as abbot of the Conyers monastery from 1957-83 and was among the founders of the monastery who came from Gethsemani, Ky., in the 1940s. His funeral Mass was celebrated June 8 at Holy Spirit Abbey.

Father Jim Babb, SJ, former director of Ignatius House, died June 12 at the Jesuit retreat house in New Orleans, La. He was 88. A memorial Mass held June 26 at Ignatius House in Atlanta, celebrated Father Babb, who was credited with renewing the Ignatian spirituality retreats that now have become a standard for individuals seeking weekends for silent reflection.

Deacon William Timme of Holy Cross Church, Atlanta, died Sept. 20 at 73. A permanent deacon, ordained in 1987, Deacon Timme served extensively at St. Joseph's Hospital, Atlanta, and at the Metropolitan Tribunal. Over 25 priests and many deacons attended Deacon Timme's funeral Mass held Sept. 23 at Holy Cross.

Sister Marie Christine Fitzgerald, GNSH, a teacher at Christ the King School and Christ the King High School, Atlanta, in the 1930s and 1940s, died Oct. 7 at 86 at St. Joseph's Manor in Meadowbrook, Pa. As she had donated her body to science, a memorial Mass was celebrated for Sister Fitzgerald Oct. 10 at the Grey Nuns' motherhouse in Yardley, Pa.

Father Corentine Finnegan, OCSO, one of the founding monks of the Abbey of Our Lady of Holy Spirit, Conyers, died Nov. 26 after a long illness. He was 84 and entering his 60th year in the order. Having traveled from Gethsemani, Ky., to Conyers at the request of their abbot, Father Finnegan and 19 monks helped build the monastery, where Father Finnegan spent the remainder of his life. His funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 30.

Madeleine Cornell, longtime employee at the archbishop's office, Atlanta, died Nov. 29 at 70. During her 25-year tenure at the archdiocese, Cornell served as an administrative assistant for four archbishops, including Archbishop Thomas Donnellan, Archbishop Eugene Marino, SSJ, Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, and Archbishop John F. Donoghue, until her retirement a few years ago. Her funeral Mass was held Dec. 3 at St. Thomas More Church in Decatur and her burial in Rome.