Fr. John Mackey Fee, ss.cc., an ordained member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, passed away at Sacred Heart Nursing Home in New Bedford, Massachusetts on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 after an extended illness. Fr. John, who celebrated his 86th birthday on September 25, was one of three sons born to Margaret (Sullivan) and John Fee in South River, New Jersey. Fr. John is currently survived by his brother James and his wife Marie of Farmington Hills, Michigan and several nieces and nephews. His brother Joseph passed away in September of 2011.
Fr. John, who this past year celebrated his 60th anniversary of profession, took his temporary vows in Fairhaven on September 14, 1951 and professed his final vows in Jaffrey, New Hampshire on September 14, 1954. He was ordained a priest on June 8, 1956.
In 1957 Fr. John was given his first SSCC appointment as a teacher at Bishop Amat High School in Glendora, California where he taught for six years and eventually was selected to be the treasurer of the school. In 1963 he returned to Massachusetts to serve as assistant pastor at Holy Trinity in Harwich, Our Lady of Lourdes in Wellfleet and at St. Mary’s in Fairhaven, later assisting with Enthronement work in Washington, DC. In 1988 Fr. John requested and was granted assignment to the Archdiocese of Detroit where he served for 23 years at parishes including Mother Cabrini, St. Simon & Jude and Queen of Peace in Harper Woods, Michigan. In 2010 Fr. John retired to Damien Residence in Fairhaven.
04/11/2012