Father James Terrence “Terry” McCloskey, CSSR, who was blessed with an Irish wit and served in ministry for 53 years, died on April 3 at St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community in Liguori. He was 80 years old.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a private Mass was celebrated April 8 at the St. Clement Redemptorist chapel.
Father McCloskey was born on March 15, 1940, in Denver. His family lived within the boundaries of St. Joseph Parish, where he felt a call to the priesthood as a youngster. After graduating from St. Joseph Elementary School in 1954, he went to St. Joseph Preparatory College in Kirkwood. He professed temporary vows as a Redemptorist on Aug. 2, 1961, and perpetual vows on Sept. 2, 1964. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 2, 1966, at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
After ordination, Father McCloskey earned a master’s degree in library science at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., which enabled him to establish and maintain a quality library for Redemptorist students at Holy Redeemer College in Waterford, Wisconsin. His real love may have been liturgical studies, which he also pursued at Catholic University. He was the main liturgical resource while he served on the faculty and as prefect of students at Holy Redeemer for 17 years — from the school’s opening until its closing. He was next appointed superior of the St. John Neumann House for students in St. Louis, and served there until 1987.
Father McCloskey was assigned to the retreat staff at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita, Kansas, twice: in 1987-89; and again in 1993-99. He also was appointed to a special apostolate at Holy Redeemer College in Oakland, California, in 1999-2002.
Father McCloskey may have found his niche in parish ministry, where he served the faithful for two decades and established a wide network of friends. He was stationed at St. Alphonsus Parish, Davenport, Iowa (1989-93); Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Parish, Kansas City (2002-11 and 2015-19); St. Alphonsus Parish, New Orleans (2011-12); and at the former Denver Province provincial residence from 2012-15, where he helped out at parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Denver.
Declining health necessitated his move to the St. Clement Redemptorist Community last September. His gracious, dignified acceptance of death when he was placed in hospice care inspired his entire community.
Burial was in the Redemptorist Cemetery in Liguori.
