4/30/2015

SearchAbout

Diocese of Helena |Directory

BishopContact

News and EventsHomeOffices & Ministries

Parishes

Vocations

Catholic Schools

Resources

As one of the non­monetary terms for resolving the cases brought against the Diocese (Whalen, et al. v.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena, et al., and Does, et al. v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena, et al.), theDiocese of Helena has agreed that: “For a period of not less than ten (10) years from the Effective Date, theDiocese will post on its website home page the names of all known past and present alleged perpetrators of
the Diocese who are identified in the Sexual Abuse Claims or the complaints filed in the Whalen and Does
cases as child sexual abusers between the 1930s and 1970s.”
The Diocese also is listing priests against whom accusations of sexual abuse of minors have been made only
to the Diocese. Should additional information come to light, the list will be modified accordingly.
The Diocese hopes that this step helps to provide a pathway to healing for those who have been abused andbrings light into a dark and difficult chapter in our diocesan Church.
List posted April 29, 2015.
Diocese of Helena Priests
note that of the 417 priests ordained for the Diocese of Helena, 20 (4.8%) have been accused of sexual abuseof a minor, one has been acquitted.
James Barry – Ordained: 1951
Assignments: St. Mary Parish, Butte: 1951­56; Cathedral Parish, Helena: 1956­57; Holy Rosary Parish,Bozeman: 1957­58; US Air Force Chaplain: 1958­62; St. John Parish, Fairfield: 1962­66; St. Philip Parish,Philipsburg: 1966­80.
Died September 8, 1980

John Bauer – Ordained: 1963
Assignments: St. Paul Parish, Anaconda: 1963­64; Sacred Heart Parish, Butte: 1964; Graduate Studies, St.
Louis University: 1964­66; Director of Catholic Charities, Helena: 1966­1970; Sacred Heart Mission, Wolf
Creek: 1968­1970
Leave of absence: September 1, 1970; Died: October 26, 1992

Harry Butori – Ordained: 1952
Assignments: Graduate studies, Rome: 1952­3; St. Michael Parish, Conrad: summer 1953; Carroll College:
1953­56; St. Peter Parish, Anaconda: 1956­57; St. Richard Parish, Columbia Falls: summer 1957; St. Matthew
Parish, Kalispell: 1957­59; Cathedral Parish and Chancery, Helena: 1959­66; Girls Central High School, Butte:
1966­68; St. William Parish, Dutton: 1968­72; St Teresa of Avila Parish, Whitehall: 1972­80; St. Joseph Parish,Choteau: 1980­86; St. James Hospital, Butte: 1986­1990; Catholic Community North, Butte: 1990­1999; retired(residence at St. Patrick rectory, Butte): September 1, 1999
Died: March 14, 2005

John Delane – Ordained: 1919
Assignments: St. Lawrence Parish, Walkerville: summer 1919; Mt St. Charles (Carroll) College: 1919­20;
Chaplain, Montana State Prison, and State Hospitals at Galen and Warm Springs: 1920­26; St. Paul Parish,Anaconda: 1926­27; Immaculate Conception Parish, Butte: 1927­28; St. Mary of the Assumption Parish,Laurin: 1928­39; St. Philip Parish, Philipsburg: 39­42; St. Mary Parish, Helena: 1942­56; Chaplain St. Joseph
Hospital, Deer Lodge: 1956­63; residence at Carroll College: 1963­71
Died: January 30, 1971

Harry Delaney – Ordained: 1925
http://www.diocesehelena.org/4850­2/1/6

4/30/2015

Diocese of Helena |Assignments: St. Paul Parish, Anaconda: summer/fall 1925; St. Joseph Parish, Butte: 1925­34; St. Joseph
Hospital, Deer Lodge: 1934­36; Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Eureka: 1936­54; General Hospital, Kalispell: 1954­
57
Died: March 11, 1957

George Ferguson – Ordained: 1956
Assignments: Anaconda: summer 1956; Sacred Heart Parish, Butte: 1956­57; Immaculate Conception Parish,Butte: 1957­59; Newman Chaplain/Christ the King Parish, Missoula: 1959­71; St. Catherine Parish, Bigfork:
1971­75; Mission in Guatemala: 1975­77; St. Anthony Parish, Missoula: 1977­78; St. William Parish,Thompson Falls: 1978­80; Sick leave, residence in Mexico: 1980­86
Died: June 12, 1986

Joseph Finnegan – Ordained: May 22, 1965
Note that criminal accusations were taken to Court, resulting in acquittal.
Assignments: Immaculate Conception Parish, Butte: 1965­72; Catholic Charities, Helena: 1972­73; Butte YouthService Center: 1973­82; Leave: 1982­89; Special Assignment: 1989­93 and 1994­2002; St. Teresa Parish,Whitehall: 1993­94;
Retired: July 1, 2002

A.M.D. Gillen – ordained May 29, 1926 (in Canada)
Assignments in Diocese of Helena: St. Richard, Columbia Falls: 1950­51; St. Teresa of the Little Flower,Browning: 1951­1965
Left Diocese: September 1, 1965; Died: July 30, 1987

Daniel Harrington – Ordained: 1932
Assignments: Graduate Studies, Rome: 1932­33; St. Mary Parish, Butte: 1933­36; St. Patrick Parish, Butte:
1936­37; Immaculate Conception Parish, Butte: 1937­39; St. Peter Parish, Anaconda: 1939­42; Sacred HeartParish, Ronan: 1942­1949; North American College, Rome: 1949­1952; Director of Catholic Charities, Helena:
1953­59; St. Joseph Home and St. John Hospital, Helena: 1958­59; Chaplain, Warm Springs: 1959­65; St.
Joseph Parish, Butte: 1965­71; Holy Savior Parish, Butte: 1971­72; Retired (residence in Butte): November 10,
1972.
Died: November 23, 1997

Robert Hartman – Ordained: 1947
Assignments: St. Patrick Parish, Butte: summer 1949; Cathedral Parish, Helena: 1949­56; Good ShepherdHome, Helena: 1956­65; St. Richard Parish, Columbia Falls: 1965­73; St. Mary Parish, Helena: 1973­77; St.
Catherine Parish, Boulder: 1977­79; Holy Cross Parish, Townsend: 1979­85; St. Catherine Parish, Bigfork:
1985­94; Retired: March 1, 1994
Died: August 12, 1996

Daniel Hillen – Ordained: 1969
Assignments: St. Patrick Parish, Butte: 1970­71; St. Ann Parish, Butte: 1971­74; Graduate studies: 1974 and1977­79; Carroll College: 1974­2002; leave to begin art studio: 2002.
Died: July 19, 2003

John Kerrigan – Ordained: 1954
Assignments: St. Patrick Parish, Butte: 1954­55; St. Francis Parish, Hamilton: 1955­56; St. Mary Parish, Butte:
1956­59; St. Lawrence Parish, Walkerville: 1959­62; St. Rose Parish, Dillon: 1962­64; St. Ann Parish, Butte:
1964­65; Little Flower Parish, Browning: summer 1965; Holy Rosary Parish, Bozeman: 1965­66; St. MichaelParish, Drummond: 1966­72; St. Bartholomew Parish, White Sulphur Springs: 1972­77; St. Joseph Parish,Choteau: 1977­1980; St. James Parish, Plains: 1980­84; Sacred Heart Parish, Ronan: 1984.
Died: July 21, 1984

Paul Kirchen – Ordained: 1929
http://www.diocesehelena.org/4850­2/2/6

4/30/2015

Diocese of Helena |Assignment: Carroll College 1929­1980; retired, residence at Carroll College: July 1, 1980
Died: April 19, 1989Emmett Lowney – Ordained: 1949
Assignments: St. Paul Parish, Anaconda: 1949­51; St. Peter Parish, Anaconda: 1951­54; Chancery andSacred Heart Mission, Wolf Creek: 1954­56; St. John Parish, Butte: 1956­57; St. Catherine Parish, Boulder:1957­64; St. Michael Parish, Drummond: 1964­67; Retreat House, Deer Lodge: 1967­68; St. Mary Mission
Parish, Stevensville: 1968­69; leave to Michigan: 1969
Died: July 31, 1975

Bernard McCarthy – Ordained: 1947
Assignments: Cathedral, Helena: 1947­49; St. Patrick, Butte: 1949­52 & 1971­78; Sacred Heart, Ronan: 1957­
68; St. Lawrence, Walkerville: 1968­71; St. Michael, Conrad: 1979­86; Risen Christ, Kalispell: 1986­89;
Catholic Community North, Butte: 1989­90; St. James Community Hospital, Butte: 1990­92; Retired: 1992
Died: September 16, 2003

James McCormick – Ordained: 1924
Assignments: Carroll College: 1924­26 and 1927­51; St. Lawrence Parish, Walkerville: 1926­27 and 1951­56;
Immaculate Conception Parish, Butte: 1956­67
Died: June 14, 1967

Dusan Okorn – Ordained: 1947
Arrived in Diocese of Helena: December 1949.
Assignments: St. Joseph Home, Helena: 1950­52; St. Peter Parish, Anaconda: 1952­53; St. Joseph Parish,Butte: 1953­55; St. Michael Parish, Conrad: 1955­58; St. Richard Parish, Columbia Falls: 1958­63; St.
Catherine Parish, Bigfork: 1963­71; St. Mary Mission Parish, Stevensville: 1971­78; Sycamore Center, Living
Water Mission, Seeley Lake, Our Lady of the Swan Valley Mission, Condon: 1978­2006; Retired: 2006
Died: January 10, 2010

Robert O’Donnell – Ordained: 1966
Assignments: St. John Parish and Girls Central High School, Butte: 1966­68; Central High School, Helena:
1968­1969; Central High School, Butte: 1969­1972; Cathedral Parish, Helena: 1972­1979; Chancery: 1979­85;
St. Mary Parish, Helena: 1983­85; Sabbatical: 1985­86; Diocese of Honolulu: 1987; Incardinated into Dioceseof Honolulu: July 17, 1990.
Died: July 29, 1995

Wilson Smart – Ordained: 1957
Assignments: St. Peter Parish, Anaconda: 1957­59; St. Ann Parish, Butte: 1959­60 and 1966­69; St. Anthony
Parish, Missoula: 1960­63; Cathedral Parish, Helena: 1963­65; St. Mary Parish, Butte: 1965­66; St. Richard
Parish, Columbia Falls: 1969­74; Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Eureka: 1974­80; St. Bartholomew Parish, White
Sulphur Springs: 1980­82; St. Joseph Parish, Harlowton: 1980­90; Leave of absence: 1990; Laicized: July 9,2003
Died: November 10, 2006Leonard Spraycar – Ordained: 1947
Assignments: St. Peter Parish, Anaconda: 1947­48 and 1954­55; St. Ann Parish, Butte: 1948­51; Chancery,Legendary Lodge & Sacred Heart Mission, Wolf Creek: 1951­54; St. Joseph Parish, Butte: 1955­59; St.
Thomas Parish, Helmville: 1959­64; St. Philip Parish, Philipsburg: 1964­66; St. John Parish, Fairfield: 1966­68;
St. Joseph Parish, Anaconda: 1968­73; St. Richard Parish, Columbia Falls: 1973­78; St. William Parish,Dutton: 1978­80; St. Patrick Hospital, Missoula: 1980­84
Died: March 31, 1984

Patrick Stimatz – Ordained: 1946
Assignments: Holy Rosary Parish, Bozeman: 1946­50; St. John Parish, Butte: 1950­59; St. Mary of the
http://www.diocesehelena.org/4850­2/3/6

4/30/2015

Diocese of Helena |Assumption Parish, Laurin: 1959­65; Little Flower Parish, Browning: 1965­72; Chaplain, Montana State Prison:1972­86
Died: May 4, 1986

Jesuit Priests or Brothers – principally from Oregon Province, Society of Jesus
names provided by the plaintiffs; assignment information from the National Catholic Directory; otherinformation is from the Oregon Province, Society of Jesus

Joseph Balfe, SJ – Ordained: 1927
Assignments in Diocese of Helena: St. Ignatius Mission Parish: 1931­35; 1945­53; St. Francis Xavier Parish,Missoula: 1936 & 44;
Left Diocese: 1953; Died: September 29, 1969

Victor Charlo – Jesuit Seminarian; not assigned in Montana

Thomas Connolly, SJ – not assigned in Montana

M.A. Dimier, SJ – [Ordination Date unavailable]
Assignment in Diocese: St. Ignatius Mission Parish, St. Ignatius: 1930­50
Died: June 14, 1950

A.J. Ferretti, SJ (“Fr. Freddy”) – Ordained: 1941
Assignments in Diocese: St. Ignatius Mission Parish, St. Ignatius: 1953; 1964­69;
Left Diocese: 1969; Died: June 28, 1982

Rene Gallant (“Brother Charlie”), SJ – no record of assignments
Died: July 23, 1975 at St. IgnatiusLouis Geis, SJ – Ordained: 1939
Assignments in Diocese: St. Ignatius Mission Parish, St. Ignatius 1959­62; St. Francis Xavier Parish, Missoula:
1949­56 & 1963­92;
Left Diocese 1992; Died: July 8, 1994

Bernard Harris, SJ – Ordained: 1945
Assignment in Diocese: St. Francis Xavier Parish, Missoula: 1954­69 and 72
Died: September 7, 1972

Egon Mallman, SJ – Ordained: 1929
Assignments in Diocese: St. Anne Parish, Heart Butte: 1934­1976;
Left Diocese: 1976; Died: August 20, 1980

Gabriel Menager, SJ – [Ordination date unavailable]
Assignments in Diocese: St. Ignatius Mission Parish, St. Ignatius: 1940­45;
Left Diocese: 1945; Died: July 28 1966

Joseph Obersinner, SJ – Ordained: 1957
Assignments in Diocese: St. Ignatius Mission Parish, St. Ignatius: 1972­80; St. Francis Xavier Parish, Missoula:
1989­91;
Left Diocese: 1991
http://www.diocesehelena.org/4850­2/4/6

4/30/2015

Diocese of Helena |Edmund Robinson (“Father Eddy”), SJ – Ordained: 1955
Assignments in Diocese: St. Ignatius Mission Parish, St. Ignatius: 1963­64; 1969­81; Left Diocese in 1981;
Died: May 22, 2014

Br. John Sorisio, SJ
Worked at St. Ignatius from 1915 until his death on July 20, 1957

Louis Taelman, SJ – Ordained: 1898
Assignments in Diocese: St. Ignatius Mission Parish, St. Ignatius: 1930­40 and 1953­58;
Left Diocese: 1958; Died: December 24, 1961

Norbertine Priests
while serving in the Diocese of Helena

John Kohnke, O Praem – ordained: March 22, 1937
Assignments in Diocese of Helena: St. Thomas Parish, Sunburst: 1955; St. William Parish, Shelby: 1960­64
Left diocese: August 19, 1964; Died: September 2, 1987

Martin Philipsen, O Praem – ordained: June 18, 1942
Assignments in Diocese of Helena: St. William Parish, Shelby: 1971­78
Left diocese: 1978; Died: August 21, 1988

Peter Pritzl, O Praem – ordained: April 25, 1929
Assignments in Diocese of Helena: St. Margaret Parish, Cut Bank: 1962­63; St. William Parish, Shelby: 1963­
71; St. Thomas Parish, Sunburst: 1971­74
Left diocese: 1974; Died: October 3, 1993

Diocese cannot verify the following individuals identified in claims as priests
Burke (first name unknown)
Byrnes or Burns (first name unknown), SJ
Callan (first name unknown)
Estes (first name unknown)
Gannon (first name unknown), SJ
Gilmore (first name unknown)
Harper (unknown)
John (last name unknown), SJ
Larson (first name unknown), SJ
James O’Brien, SJ
Sullinger (unknown)
Sullivan (first name unknown)

http://www.diocesehelena.org/4850­2/5/6

4/30/2015

Diocese of Helena |Lay Persons at St. Ignatius
Mr. Crawford
Dave (last name unknown)
Ms. Knauf

Ursuline Sisters serving at St. Ignatius between 1940 and 1975
names provided by plaintiffs
Mother Bernadette, OSU
Sister Camilla, OSU
Sister Catherine, OSU
Mother Cecelia, OSU (Frances Seymor)
Mother Clement Marie, OSU
Sister Daniels, OSU
Mother Finbarr, OSU
Sister Frances, OSU
Mother Grace, OSU
Sister Henrietta, OSU
Sister John, OSU
Mother Loyola, OSU (Rufina Karges)
Sister Mackey, OSU
Mother Marianne, OSU
Sister Mary Laurence, OSU
Sister Margaret, OSU
Sister Marion, OSU
Sister Martin, OSU
Sister Monica, OSU
Sister Rita, OSU
Sister Teresa, OSU

Sisters from other Communities
while serving in the Diocese of Helena
Mother Catherine, RGS – Good Shepherd Home, Helena
Sister Glenniatoss – (religious community uncertain)
Sister Mary Agnes Rose, BVM – Immaculate Conception School, Butte
Sister Mary Victor, SCL – St. Helena School, Helena
Sister Monica, OP – St. Margaret School, Cut Bank
Sister Richildus, OP – St. Margaret School, Cut Bank

Phone: 406­442­5820
Fax: 406­442­5191

http://www.diocesehelena.org/4850­2/

Mailing address:
Diocese of Helena
P.O. Box 1729
Helena, Montana 59624

Physical Address:
Diocese of Helena
515 North Ewing
Helena, Montana 59624

6/6