It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our brother, Fr. Steve Smith , O.P. Fr. Steve Kieran Smith, O.P., was born in New York, New York on May 7, 1931 and died peacefully on April 4, 2018.
Fr. Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Bridget Brady Smith and Peter Smith and three brothers Peter, Andrew and Thomas. He has two sister in laws Attracta E Rodgers and Louise Adair Smith currently residing in NY. He was a great blessing to his 10 nieces and 3 nephews presiding over many of their weddings and baptisms of their children.
Fr. Steve entered the Dominican novitiate for the Province of St. Joseph in August 1952 in Dover, MA. He professed first vows at St. Stephen Priory in Dover on August 26, 1952. On June 5, 1958 he was ordained to the Priesthood by Cardinal Cicognani in Washington, D.C.
Fr. Steve held several degrees, including J.C.D., 1962; Theology, 1959; and Philosophy, 1955.
The first assignment Fr. Steve had was as a Peritus at the Second Vatican Council from 1962-1963. Journeying to Pakistan from 1963 -1982, Fr. Steve was first the Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature. Then he was the Pastor at Our Lady of Fatima, Volunteer Director and then Director for Catholic Relief Services and Co-Founder Inter-Aid Karachi. In 1982, Fr. Steve was assigned as Associate Pastor and Prior at St. Anthony of Padua in New Orleans. Following New Orleans, Fr. Steve was Associate Pastor at Holy Cross Parish in Atlanta for four years. From 1989-2000, Fr. Steve was the Pastor at St Elizabeth Church in Elizabethton, TN. Fr. Steve was then assigned to Raleigh, NC, where he served as Defender of the Bond and an Itinerant Preacher until 2012. For the next year, Fr. Steve ministered in Memphis, TN.
Father Steve will be missed by many of the parishes, people he blessed, and all of the Pakistani families he sponsored to the US during his tenure in Pakistan.
In 2013, Fr. Steve came to live at Our Lady of Wisdom Health Care Center in New Orleans where he would remain until his death.
Funeral:
Friday, April 13, 2018
Our Lady of Wisdom Heath Care Center
5600 General De Gaulle Drive
New Orleans, LA 70131
Interment:
Rosaryville Cemetery
39003 Rosaryville Road
Ponchatoula, LA 70454
Click the image of Fr. Steve Smith, OP, above to view or download a high resolution photo.