The Passing of Fr. Daniel J. Hartigan, OSA

The Augustinians mourn the loss of another brother, as Fr. Daniel Hartigan, OSA died on February 17, at Mercy Circle in Chicago. At age 99, Dan was the eldest Augustinian friar in the United States and Canada.

Funeral Arrangements:

A wake and funeral Mass will take place at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, 7740 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60620-5867.

Visitation: 3 - 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 21

Mass: 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 21

Burial: 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 22

Please click here to read a 2014 interview by Jeff Raths, OSA with Fr. Dan Hartigan, OSA in The Midwest Augustinian.

Daniel Joseph Hartigan was born June 15, 1917 in Boston, Massachusetts to David F and Julia (Keohane) Hartigan.  He was Baptized June 17, 1917 at St. Vincent Catholic Church, South Boston, Massachusetts.  He received the Sacrament of Confirmation October 16, 1929 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, South Boston.

Daniel graduated in 1934 from Boston Trade School, Boston. He worked for two years as a printer.  In 1936 he entered the Augustinian program of formation at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, where he studied Latin for one year.

He was received into the Augustinian Novitiate September 9, 1937.  He professed simple vows in the Order of St. Augustine September 10, 1938 and solemn vows September 10, 1941.  He earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1942.  He then pursued theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C., receiving an M.A. in 1946.  He was ordained a Priest May 22, 1945.  

Father Hartigan earned in 1946 an M.S. in Mathematics from Catholic University of America, Washington.  He earned an M.Ed. from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, in 1959 and an Ed. D. from Loyola in 1962. He did additionalstudies in Psychology at Loyola University.

He was assigned in 1946 to St. Rita High School, Chicago, as a Teacher.  When Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago, opened its doors in 1951, Father Hartigan was assigned as a member of its original faculty.

In 1960 he was transferred to Tolentine College, Olympia Fields, Illinois, as a Teacher and Counselor.  At the same time he was named Superintendent of Schools for the Augustinian Secondary School system.  From 1963 to 1968, while continuing to serve as Superintendent, Father Hartigan was Principal of Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago.  He served as Prior of Mendel Monastery, Chicago, from 1968 to 1974.  

Father Hartigan became a Certified Alcoholism Counselor and a Registered Psychologist in the State of Illinois. Beginning in 1974 he was employed by the City of Chicago, Department of Health,  Bureau of Mental Health, first as a Psychologist, and from 1976 to 1993 as Psychologist and Director of the city’s Mid-South Mental Health Center.  During these years he resided at Mendel Monastery, Chicago, until 1988, then at St. Rita Monastery, Chicago (1988-93).

He retired from the Bureau of Mental Health in 1993, and resided at St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic Parish, Chicago, where he also was Prior (1993-2002).  He moved in 2002 to St. Monica Monastery, Chicago. He was named Prior at St. Monica in 2006, and served in this office until 2010.

He was assigned to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Monastery, Olympia Fields, in April, 2010.  When Bl. Stephen Bellesini Friary was established at Franciscan Village, Lemont, Illinois, in July, 2010, Father Hartigan was assigned there.  This community was formed to provide health care to elder friars while preserving elements of Augustinian community life.