James Earl Jones, a distinguished actor known for his resonant voice and a Black Catholic, died Sept. 9 in Dutchess County, New York, at age 93. Jones' passing coincided with the feast of St. Peter Claver, a patron saint of Black Catholics.
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, the Detroit prelate who for many American Catholics defined faith-based social justice activism in the post-Vatican II church, died April 4. He was 94.
Jesuit Father Frank R. Haig, a beloved professor of physics at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and a former president of two Jesuit universities, died Feb. 28. He was 95 and had been living in the Manresa Jesuit Community in Philadelphia.
Atlanta's progressive Catholic community has been celebrating the life of Msgr. Henry Gracz, who died Feb. 5. Gracz championed the inclusion of Catholics of all stripes at downtown Atlanta's Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Mary Jo Tully, the first laywoman chancellor of a U.S. diocese, also contributed to the creation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Colleagues remembered her candor, talents, and fierce love of the church.
Colleagues from Catholic reform group Call to Action are remembering Robert Heineman, a staff veteran who died Dec. 13. "He believed in the possibility of the people of God, the church, to make change," said his partner Eileen.
Catholic peace and environmental activist Helen Dery Woodson, whose bold actions befuddled both the judicial system and often her fellow peace activists, died Dec. 2 at age 80.
Benedictine Sr. Patricia Crowley came from a famous Catholic family, and made her own mark as a Benedictine sister, social justice advocate, and leader in the church and community. Crowley died Oct. 14. She was 84.
