Reverend, Francis J. Crowley, CM
1929-2007

Father Frank Crowley, CM, son of Francis and Mary Mangon Crowley, was born in Chicago on April 17, 1929. After attending St. Vincent College in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, he entered the Congregation of the Mission on May 22, 1948. He studied philosophy and theology at St. Mary’s Seminary in Perryville, Missouri, and was ordained a priest on June 2, 1957. Fr. Crowley completed advanced degrees in mathematics and science at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau and DePaul University in Chicago.

Teaching at the minor seminary was Fr. Crowley’s first assignment. After his ordination in 1957, he went to St. Vincent’s College in Cape Girardeau and taught there for seven years (1957-64). From there he was assigned to St. John’s Seminary in Kansas City (1964-73) and St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Montebello, California (1973-74).

In 1974, Fr. Crowley, together with his priest confrere and friend, Father Carl Schulte, CM, helped restart the program of the Vincentian Parish Missions. Through this specialized ministry he left a great impact on a vast number of parishes throughout the United States, as well as parishes in Australia. During his priesthood Fr. Crowley was sought out as a guide and spiritual director by laity and clergy alike. This kind and gentle man was recognized as a friend to all.

In 2003, Fr. Crowley became a senior confrere in service at the Vincentian Parish Mission Center, where he continued to support the apostolate. He died on October 29, 2007, at Carondolet Manor in Kansas City, Missouri. His funeral Mass was held at Coronation of Our Lady Church in Grandview, Missouri, on October 31. Burial was at the community cemetery at St. Mary’s of the Barrens on November 1.

Fr. Crowley is survived by his sister Joan Gallery, several nieces and nephews, cousins and friends, religious women and men. We, his priest and brother confreres, are most grateful for the loving, dedicated ministry afforded him during his illness by relatives, friends and the staff of Carondolet Manor in Kansas City.