Butler, Vincent E.

Father Vincent E. Butler, S.J. died on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at the Jesuit infirmary, Murray-Weigel Hall, Bronx, NY. Born on June 12, 1931 in Jamaica, NY of Edward and Elizabeth (Clancy), he was 80 and a Jesuit for 61 years.

After completing his secondary education at Xavier High School in 1948, he began college at Fordham University. Following two years there, he entered the Society of Jesus at St. Andrew-on-Hudson in Poughkeepsie, NY on July 30, 1950.

He pronounced his first vows on 31 July, 1952. After two years of the collegiate program there, he began the study of philosophy, first at Bellarmine College, Plattsburgh, NY (1954-55) and then at Loyola Seminary, Shrub Oak, NY (1955-57). He returned to his Alma Mater, Xavier, for regency, teaching Latin and Greek there from 1957-60.

To prepare for the priesthood, he studied theology at Woodstock College, Woodstock, MD from 1960-64. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Pernicone in the Fordham University Chapel on 20 June, 1963. He completed the final year of Jesuit formation, tertianship, in Dublin, Ireland (1964-65).

This led to many years of teaching secondary school. Subjects taught included Cinema/Film, religion, and history at Loyola School (1965-66 and 1967-73), St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City (1977-78), and Canisius High School, Buffalo, NY (1979-82).

Then, for eleven years he directed at St. Ignatius Retreat house, Manhasset, and at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs, Auriesville, NY. Returning to the secondary school apostolate, he assisted in at Xavier High School (1989-2001). In 2001 he was assigned to Loyola Hall at Fordham University where he assisted in the Jesuit community. Fr. Butler, for most of his apostolic Jesuit life was in secondary education, where his imposing figure and frequent (and easily heard) laugh could easily be seen and heard.

With increasing illness, in 2011 he was assigned to pray for the Church and the Society of Jesus at the Jesuit infirmary, Murray-Weigel Hall. He is survived by his sister, Sr. Edna Butler, D.W. of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Convent, Sound Beach, NY 11789.