January 14 is the anniversary of Arthur G. O’Rourke.

Arthur Gerard O’Rourke, son of Herbert O’Rourke and Mary Ellen Reilly, was born in Brookline, Ma., on May 26, 1930. He was baptized in St. Mary Church, Brookline, Ma., on June 29, 1930, where he received his elementary and high school education. In September 1948, he became a post graduate postulant at Augustinian Academy on Staten Island, N.Y. In September 1949, Arthur made his novitiate year at Our Lady of Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, N.Y. On September 10, 1950, he professed simple vows and then attended Villanova University from 1950 to 1953, where he received his BA Degree in Philosophy. He continued his studies at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C. receiving an MA in Theology and Religious Education. He professed solemn vows on September 10, 1953 and was ordained to the priesthood at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. on June 8, 1957. In August 1957, he completed an MA degree from Strayer Business School, Villanova University.

Father Art’s first assignment was to join the faculty of Augustinian Academy on Staten Island from 1957 to 1958. From 1958 to 1971, he served as assistant pastor at St. Mary Church in Waterford, N.Y., and in 1962, was elected sub-prior. In August 1971, he was appointed pastor and treasurer of St. Nicholas of Tolentine community in Atlantic City, N.J., and in 1975, was given the added responsibility of prior of that community. From 1980 to 1982, Father Art served as associate pastor in St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, Jamaica, N.Y., where he celebrated his silver jubilee of priesthood ordination in June 1982. In August of 1982, he returned to Upstate New York and served again in St. Mary Church in Waterford, until 1983, when he became associate pastor at the Assumption/St. Paul parish in Mechanicville, where he remained for five years.

In 1988, Father Art was appointed treasurer of Our Mother of Good Counsel Monastery at Merrimack College, No. Andover, Ma., where he assisted with the care of the elderly friars. Then, in 1995, he was assigned as associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Lawrence, Ma. During his six years of service in that parish his health began to fail, and in August 2001, he retired to the Health Care Unit at St. Thomas Monastery, Villanova, Pa. In January 2003, due to an extensive renovation program to the monastery, Father Art moved to St. Joseph Friary at Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Pa., where the Health Care Unit was established. Father Art died there on January 14, 2003. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Mary/Immaculate Conception Church, Lawrence, Ma., on Sunday, January 19. Interment was conducted the following day at St. Mary/Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Lawrence, Ma.

Father Art was known throughout his life as a man of gentleness, good humor (having mastered the ‘pun’) a loyal brother and a faithful priest. His spontaneous compassion toward everyone he met and his conscientious care for those hospitalized and the infirmed Augustinian Friars, became his dominant traits. His sense of justice was reflected in the amount of a gratuity he offered in restaurant services. Over the years Father Art showed dedication to his sister, Sister Mary O’Rourke, CSJ, who, at the time of his death, was actively involved in ministry in the parish of the Blessed Sacrament, Saugus, Ma.