View the video of our Prayer Vigil & Funeral Mass for our brother
Our brother Jonathan Williams, OFM Cap., died from complications related to Parkinsons Disease at UPMC Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, on Thursday, January 12, 2023. He was 78.
Born to Glen and Bertha (Micek) Williams on March 18, 1944 in Atwood. KS, he was given the name Patrick at his baptism at Sacred Heart Church and attended Sacred Heart Grade School in Atwood before entering St. Francis Seminary High School in Victoria, KS, administrated and staffed by our Capuchin friars. In 1962, he entered St. Fidelis College Seminary in Herman, PA.
As was the custom, he was clothed in the Capuchin habit at the beginning of his novitiate year at St. Conrad Friary in Annapolis, MD, which followed his second year of college in 1964. Patrick was given the name Jonathan and was among the class which included novices Sean O’Malley, Paul Kuppe and Charles Chaput, as well as our brothers Bill Gillum and James Gavin (+2021).
In the photo on the right, the bottom row finds Paul Kuppe and Charles Chaput on the far left and right. Jonathan is at the center of the back row, with Sean O'Malley on the left of him in the photo.
Though Bill and James did not appear in the novitiate shot here, they are included in a photo taken of the classmates at our triennial Chapter meeting in 2013. All of them professed their first vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in 1965.
Jonathan returned to St. Fidelis College to complete philosophy studies and moved to Capuchin College in Washington, DC, for theological studies and preparation for priestly ordination. After making his perpetual vows on in July 1968, he was ordained to the priesthood in May 1971.
His first assignment was as parochial vicar to Sacred Heart Parish in Charleston, WV, and as administrator of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Whitesville, WV. He simultaneously pursued studies in Sacred Liturgy at Notre Dame University, earning a Master of Arts degree in 1975.
In 1976, Jonathan became co-pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Whitesville and St. Mary Queen of Heaven Parish in Madison, both in Boone County, WV. His difficult and challenging ministry to the hollars and mountains of rural America prepared him well for his ultimate dream: being a missionary in Papua New Guinea. That dream was realized in 1981. For the first three years in the mission, he was pastor of St. Felix Parish in Pangia in the Southern Highlands Province.
A few years later, in 1984, Jonathan was appointed professor at the major seminary and assigned to serve on the formation team at Capuchin Friars College in Bomana, a preparation for the friars’ own ordination to the priesthood.
After a long academic sabbatical year in 1992 at Washington Theological Union, Washington, DC, and St. Bonaventure University in western New York state, he returned, refreshed and renewed, to Papua New Guinea and assumed pastoral care of St. Mary Queen of the Friars Minor Parish in Kagua. He was named Director of Worship for the National Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea in 1998, and established the Office of Liturgy in Goroka, where he also established St. Hippolytus Friary there. Appointed novice directory of the Custody in 2006, he took on his role as Guardian and Director of Formation at the Capuchin Friars’ College for priesthood studies in 2012.
The friars elected our brother to the Custody’s Concil of leadership several times, beginning in 1995, and at the Custody Chapter of 2013, he was elected Custos, a role to which he was re-elected for three more years in 2016-2019.
The photo here shows some of the friars who have served in Papua New Guinea; the picture was taken at our Chapter of 2022. Jonathan is the fourth friar from the right.
Towards the end of his service as Custos, Jonathan was diagnosed as suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. He returned to the United States and to our motherhouse of St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh in 2020 for medical attention and care. The progressive and debilitating condition would ultimately be the cause of his passing.
Jonathan loved Capuchin life and his Capuchin brothers. In imitation of St. Francis of Assisi, his preferred signature was "LBJ," for Little Brother Jonathan (our title as Friars Minor is literally translated from the Latin to read so). He had great affection for the Capuchin brothers in Papua New Guinea with whom he lived for nearly 40 years. He was devoted to prayer and passionate about the liturgy. All aspects of daily life were “liturgical” for him. The genuine hospitality he extended to every visitor and the meals he thoughtfully prepared for the brothers were but preparation for entering into prayer and the sacred liturgy. The Eucharist was truly the source and summit of his living. He had particular affection for Secular Franciscans and was beloved by Sisters of many communities for his compassion, wisdom and inspiration.
In the photo above, Jonathan plats an instrument for the 2016 General Chapter in Rome; the right picture sees Jonathan making an intervention for the support of Papua New Guinea in our Provincial Chapter of 2022.
Jonathan endured the effects of Parkinson’s Disease with grace and determination, even eagerly participating in dance therapy three times weekly until “end stage” Parkinson’s left him increasingly immobile.
Jonathan cherished his family and treasured the faith he received from them early in life. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Michael and John. He leaves to mourn his passing three devoted and loving sisters: Maria (David) Jones of Minneapolis, MN, Susan (Thomas) McGuire of St. Louis Park, MN, and Maureen, a.k.a. Marnie, of Boulder CO. Marnie is seen here to Jonathan's right at a 2022 visit that took place in Denver. Seven nieces and one nephew will also miss him deeply, as will his cherished friends and his Capuchin brothers.
At the family's request, the rites of Christian burial will take place toward the end of January to allow for the presence of his brothers, sisters and dear friends.
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St. Margaret of Cortona Chapel
St. Augustine Friary
221 36th Street
Pittsburgh, PA
Wake and Visitation
Friday, January 27 2023
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Vigil Prayer Service
Friday, January 27, 2023
8:00 p.m.
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Mass of Christian Burial
St. Augustine Church
Our Lady of Angels Parish
234 37th Street
Pittsburgh PA 15201
Saturday, January 28, 2023
9:30 a.m.
Interment
Immediately following the Mass
Friars' Plot, St. Augustine Cemetery
250 Wible Run Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15209
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Memorial donations to honor
the life of our brother Jonathan
may be made online
to the Capuchin Franciscan Friars
or to the address in the footer below.