Keefe

Father Thomas H. Keefe, M.M.

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Father Thomas H. Keefe, M.M., a missioner to Africa, died Aug. 16 at St. Teresa’s Residence, Ossining. He was 85.

Assigned to Tanzania after his ordination in 1955, he established the Wira Mission in Shinyanga Diocese in 1958. Three years later, he started a second mission at Ndoleleji, where he initiated a program to teach modern farming techniques.

He was appointed second consultor for Maryknoll’s Africa Region in 1966. He returned to the United States in 1967 where he served on Maryknoll’s seminary faculty in Ossining until 1971. He was then appointed rector of the major seminary, serving until 1974. He served on the staff of the Maryknoll Novitiate in Hingham, Mass., 1974-1978.

He returned to Africa in 1978 and was assigned to Maryknoll’s Sudan unit where he directed a national training center for pastoral, liturgical and catechetical education for Sudanese priests, brothers and catechists. In 1980, he transferred to Nairobi, Kenya, to serve in two Maryknoll parishes.

He returned to the United States in 1984 to serve in Maryknoll’s development department and as director of the order’s West Hempstead house. He also served on the faculty of Cathedral College Seminary, Douglaston, 1986-1988.

He returned to Kenya in 1988 and later served as pastor of a parish in Nairobi. He was director of the Office of Continuing Formation/Education at the Maryknoll Mission Center, 1991-1996. He retired in 1999.

Born in Poughkeepsie, he entered Maryknoll Apostolic College in 1946. He professed his final vows in 1954. He held a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s in religious education from Maryknoll Seminary. He also held a master’s in pastoral counseling from Iona College.

A sister, Sheila, survives him. A Funeral Mass was offered Aug. 21at the Queen of Apostles Chapel at the Maryknoll Center, Ossining. Burial was at the Marynoll Society Cemetery.

Father Thomas H. Keefe, M.M.