Father Sarsfield O Sullivan, a diocesan priest remembered for his dedication as a pastor, easygoing humor and knowledge of all things Irish in his hometown of Butte, died April 24 at St. James Healthcare in Butte. He was 85 and approaching his 59th anniversary as a priest.

John Patrick Sarsfield O Sullivan–who allowed no apostrophe in his name and was known widely as Father Sars–was ordained on May 19, 1951, at the Cathedral of St. Helena. Over the years, he served eight Montana parishes and a mission.

A priest with twinkling eyes and a reputation for kindness, Father O Sullivan delighted in life. Bishop George Leo Thomas described him as a superb storyteller who was “keenly intellectual, but at the same time very in touch with ordinary people.”

Father O Sullivan was born in Butte on Nov. 12, 1924, to Irish immigrant Sean O Sullivan and Josephine Murphy, a Butte native reared in Ireland. He attended Butte’s Catholic schools and St. Edward Seminary in Kenmore, Wash., where his older brother, Eammon, studied for the priesthood.

Immediately after ordination, Father O Sullivan became the assistant pastor at St. Paul Parish in Anaconda. In 1955 he returned to Butte, assisting at St. Ann and then at Sacred Heart before becoming pastor at St. William Parish in Thompson Falls, in 1964. He was elected dean of the Missoula Deanery in 1970, and a few months later he became the pastor at St. Ann Parish in Bonner. In 1971 he began serving as the pastor at St. Lawrence in Walkerville, on the edge of Butte. For a time, he was both the St. Lawrence pastor and the administrator for St. Mary Parish in Butte.

In 1983 he took up duties as the pastor at St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Whitehall.

Five years later, he began serving Notre Dame Mission in Twin Bridges while continuing to serve at St. Teresa. He took a sabbatical in 1993 and retired in 1994.

Three years before retirement, he was introduced to Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

Father O Sullivan, who found nothing authentically Irish about the apostrophe customary in names such as his, often was called upon to talk about the Irish influence in Butte. He was a source of information for students, authors, dignitaries and the PBS film “Butte, America,” which featured his comments about the city dubbed Ireland’s fifth province. The film was released in 2006, the same year that Irish President Mary McAleese visited Butte and met Father O Sullivan at his home. His sister, Veronica O Sullivan, told The Montana Standard newspaper in 1994 that she remembered Irish freedom fighters visiting the family home early in the 20th century.

Father O Sullivan, his sister and Fathers Tom Fenlon, Ernie Burns and Gregory Burke were grand marshals for the 2004 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Butte.

Milestones in the life of Father O Sullivan included his 55th anniversary as a priest, celebrated in 2006 at Butte’s Holy Spirit Parish with Fathers Burns and Burke, his former classmates. Of the seven men with whom Father O Sullivan was ordained, Father Burke is the sole survivor.

The vigil was on April 28 and the funeral Mass on April 29, at St. Patrick Parish in Butte. Burial next to Father O Sullivan’s brother, Father Eamonn, followed in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Bishop Thomas celebrated the Mass. Concelebrating were Father Burke; Father John Hunthausen, who preached the homily; Msgr. Joseph Harrington, the vicar for senior-status priests; Father Thomas Haffey, dean of the Butte Deanery; and Fathers Frank Wright SMA, Robert Hall, William Dornbos and John Robertson.

In addition to his brother, Father O Sullivan was preceded in death by his sister Veronica and by infant brothers Liam and Donal. He is survived by a number of cousins. Toward the end of his life, he was assisted by loving caregivers Gena Molenda Grund and Gregory Smith.

Visits by Bishop Thomas, Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen, priests, seminarians and women religious were particularly special to Father O Sullivan in his later years. Visitors in addition to the bishop and archbishop included Msgr. Harrington; Fathers Haffey, Dornbos, Burke and Hunthausen; and Sisters Edna Hunthausen and Mary Jo Quinn.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Butte Central Schools Foundation at 9 S. Idaho St., Butte MT 59701 or to the Diocese of Helena, P.O. Box 1729, Helena MT 59624-1729. Contributions to the diocese should be to the attention of Stewardship Services Director Glenda Seipp.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 5, May 21, 2010.