Sociable, affable and with a strong religious faith, Rev. John Patrick Murphy was a perfect fit for the Augustinian Mission Band, a group of priests chosen to visit Catholic parishes across the country to direct retreats and conduct missions.
All the members preached religious doctrine, but he delivered a little extra, performing magic tricks that prompted smiles from adults and awe from children.
“He was very jovial, good-natured with a wonderful sense of humor; a gentle, compassionate and kind man,” said Rev. Jerome Heyman, who first met Father Murphy as a fellow seminarian and then ministered with him in the Mission Band. “The tricks were kind of his dessert, as he would say, especially when he visited [the parishes’] school rooms. He would give the doctrine of the catechism, the religious word, and then work the tricks in afterward.”
Father Murphy, 74, a 31-year member of the Augustinian Mission Band and retired associate pastor of St. Jude Parish in New Lenox, died of heart failure, Tuesday, Jan. 13, in the Mother Theresa Home in Lemont.
“He radiated joy,” his colleague said. “As a preacher, he always reflected a great deal of optimism, the joy of the Resurrection. He didn’t use guilt in his sermons at all. He would talk about the good, holy people he knew and portray the world as a good, kind place.
“He was a real reflection of the gentle Christ.”
Father Murphy was born in Chicago and began his high school education at St. Monica Seminary High School in Oconomowoc, Wis. His senior year he transferred to Augustinian Academy in New York, where he graduated in 1947.
He entered the Augustinian novitiate that same year but interrupted his religious training for two years to care for his ailing parents. He reentered the novitiate in 1950, earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Villanova University, and then conducted his theological studies at Augustinian College in Washington, D.C.
After being ordained in 1957, he taught at St. Rita High School in Chicago. He joined the mission group in 1962, based first out of the St. Joseph Mission House in Ft. Wayne and then St. Rita Monastery in Chicago. He also served for several years as the Mission Band’s director.
Father Murphy was named associate pastor of St. Jude in 1993 and retired in 2001.
“He was well-liked and always someone who was upbeat,” said Rev. Michael Slattery, the church’s pastor. “He considered humor as something very important. He liked sharing a joke or two and loved old movies that were uplifting and humorous.
“He also was very much a sociable person who loved to attend any event, party or gathering.”
In his free time, he enjoyed playing sports and would issue challenges for chess and checker games. He also visited parishioners, especially seniors who gathered to play board games.
He is survived by several cousins. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday in Marian Village, 159th Street and Messenger Boulevard, Homer Glen. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Jude, 241 W. 2nd Ave., New Lenox, preceded by a one-hour visitation in the church.
