Mortimer Danaher

Monsignor Mortimer Danaher passed away on March 29, 2023. He celebrated the 70th year of his ordination as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church earlier that month. He spent his entire priesthood in the Diocese of St. Augustine as an educator and parish priest. His ministry indelibly touched the lives of multiple thousands of people in this area. He built churches, schools and gymnasiums, but most of all he built up the Body of Christ here as a faithful and charismatic pioneer priest as the Diocese grew.

Born on December 22, 1929, in Ballyhahill, County Limerick, Ireland to Nora (nee) Daly and Matthew Danaher, Mort was a member of a large and loving family who all had a part in the family’s dairy farm. He is predeceased by his parents and siblings, Matthew Danaher, Msgr. Leo Danaher, Patrick Danaher, Mary Danaher O’Sullivan, Jo Danaher Heffernan, Peggy Danaher Stack, Rena Danaher O’Shaugnessy and Anna Danaher Smithwick. He is survived by a host of caring and faithful nephews and nieces who loved their Uncle Mort. He baptized and officiated at the weddings of most of them.

Monsignor was educated in Limerick at St Munchins College secondary school and attended Mungret diocesan seminary when an event changed his life. He was hoping to be posted to the missions in Africa, but the seminary was visited by Joseph Hurley, the Archbishop of St. Augustine Diocese looking for young priests to help build his Diocese which at that time included all of Florida east of the Apalachicola River. Mort was convinced by the archbishop that Florida offered the same mission opportunities as Africa and off he went to St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, to complete his studies. He became Archbishop Hurley’s right-hand man. Among his duties, he acted as the bishop’s driver at the Second Vatican Council—a source of many great stories told with Mort’s inimitable wit and lilting brogue.

Hurley ordained him on March 1, 1953, in St. Petersburg. He was immediately made the pastor of St. Anthony’s Parish in Fort Lauderdale and taught at Central Catholic High School. He attended Catholic University and received a master’s degree in education in 1956. Later that year he was named President of Bishop Kenny High School where he began lifelong friendships with many—but only after they had graduated under his “stern eye.” He served as Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese for seventeen years. During that time he was the founding pastor of San Jose Parish, building church, school, parish hall and making more lifelong friends. He became the pastor of Christ the King Parish in 1977 and held that position until he retired in August 1997. His impact on the parishes he headed cannot be underestimated. He was certainly the face of the Catholic Church to many in the Jacksonville area. In the meanwhile, he was the mentor of many priests and sisters who came to this country as members of the FBI—Foreign Born Irish-- who had a mighty part in building this diocese.

Monsignor’s retirement was anything but a slow-down, as he visited the sick, celebrated Mass weekly at St. Catherine Laboure Place for seniors, worked at the St. Francis Soup Kitchen feeding the poor and homeless and was always available for time with friends filled with joy and fellowship and a pint or two. He happily said he was busier than ever in a very busy life.

He maintained his ministry up until the moment of his death.

A Vigil Service shall be held at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9800 Baymeadows Rd., Jacksonville, Florida at 7 pm on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. A Mass of Christian Burial shall be held on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 10 am at Holy Family. A live stream link will be available at holyfamilyjax.com/news/livestreaming. A private internment shall be held at San Lorenzo Cemetery.

The family suggests that donations be made to The Diocese of St. Augustine Catholic Foundation 11625 Old St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville 32258 in lieu of flowers.