St. Thomas the Apostle welcomes Father Danaher as new pastor
Father Danaher expressed his enthusiasm for his newest assignment, saying, "Like all of you, I am also a parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle. My parish where I was born and raised in St. Louis was my home parish. This is now my home parish."
Father Danaher joined the Society of the Divine Word (Divine Word Missionaries) in 1975. After two years of working with the Divine Word Missionaries in Japan (1976-1978), and after making his first profession of vows with the Society in 1979, he attended Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and was ordained in December 1983. He then returned to Japan for language studies and to serve as associate pastor at a Tokyo parish.
In 1989, Father Danaher worked in hospital ministry in Pittsburgh for three years before journeying west to become associate pastor at St. Ferdinand Parish in Chicago.
Father Danaher was a member of the Divine Word Missionaries until formally joining the Joliet Diocese in 2000. He has been associate pastor at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Addison and St. Raphael Parish in Naperville. He also has been pastor of Christ the Servant Parish in Woodridge and then returned to St. Philip Church, where he was pastor from 2011 until this most recent appointment.
As St. Thomas' fifth pastor, Father Danaher succeeds the Rev. Don McLaughlin who was named pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Aurora.
Father Danaher's pride in his vocation and avocation is reflected in a picture taped to his office door. Thanks to modern photography and the wonders of today's computers, the picture shows the new pastor, vested and ready to say Mass … and wearing a Cardinals baseball cap, Cardinals team shoes and holding a Cardinals bat. One hand also grips a gold-colored cross. A Cardinals pennant is taped to the door, too.
That's the spirit, Father!
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St. Thomas the Apostle, a parish of the Diocese of Joliet, strives to bear the Good News of God's unconditional love to all generations through worship, faith formation, witness and service. Organized in 1984, the St. Thomas faith community numbers more than 3,450 households of more than 10,800 people. Complete news and information on parish events, guest speakers and special programs is available at www.stapostle.org. For general parish information please call (630) 355-8980.