History of  Father John Patrick Riley

John Patrick Riley, CSC

Grateful firstborn son of John Joseph and Patricia Ann (Stoll) Riley (faith, family, home, and hearth came through them)

Siblings: Mary Margaret (Peg) Merrill, (Judith Ann-died at birth), Kathleen Louise, Thomas Michael, Daniel Joseph, Matthew Kevin

Born 2 February 1957 in Buffalo, NY, raised in nearby Lockport, NY

Educated John E. Pound kindergarten, St. Mary’s Grade School and Lockport Catholic Middle School, DeSales Catholic High School class of ‘7575,

Canisius College of Buffalo class of ’79, Notre Dame Law School class of ’82, ND M. Div/Moreau Seminary ’92

ROTC scholarship, commissioned 1979, served as Army Judge Advocate Generals Corps officer in Third Infantry Division Wuerzburg, Germany 1982-85, Chief Legal Assistance, Fort Bliss, TX 1986-87

Final Vows 1993, ordained 9 April 1994 (first seminarian counselor (!) Women’s Care Center, South Bend ’90-91?)

Served as a seminarian, regent, deacon, and associate Christ the King, South Bend, IN 1992-98

(’98 only 9 weeks in Fort Portal, Uganda due to malaria/nervous exhaustion)

’98-99 associate St. Joseph, South Bend

’99-2008 pastor Sacred Heart, Notre Dame

June-December 2008 family sabbatical while serving at All Saints, Lockport, NY

January-June 2009 associate Tri-Community, Colorado Springs, CO

2009-2013 associate St. Joseph, South Bend

2013-2018 pastor St. Andre Bessette, Portland, OR

2018-2022 associate St. John the Evangelist Viera, FL

March-September 2022 Sabbatical

Served as judge (w/indults from Rome) on Marriage Tribunals Fort Wayne-South Bend, Portland

Served as chaplain COURAGE Roman Catholic Apostolate, FWSB, Portland, Orlando dioceses.

Runner, Birder, Country Music Fan, Knights of Columbus.