A Catholic priest known for his kindness, his work in the civil rights era, and a half-century of service to the people of Central Illinois has died at age 87.
Monsignor Doug Hennessy was the pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Bloomington for a decade. He preferred to be known as Father Doug.
Hennessy served parishes in Bloomington, Danville, Urbana, Macomb and Peoria, headed religious education at Catholic schools in the Peoria diocese for a time, advised the bishop, and championed the civil rights movement. After his retirement, Hennessy became active in immigrant rights and other causes.
“God’s Word tells us every person without exception has inherent human dignity and is worthy of respect,” Hennessy told the McLean County Museum of History.
Hennessy grew up in Bloomington in the Holy Trinity parish. He attended what is now Central Catholic High School and St. Ambrose College [now University]. Hennessy said in a WGLT interview earlier this year he had prayed he would not be sent to a seminary that taught Latin because he wasn't fond of Latin. The church sent him to Rome.
"They not only taught in Latin, the textbooks were in Latin, oral exams were in Latin, proving to me that God has a sense of humor," said Hennessy.
Later in life, Hennessy also taught at a college in Rome.
He said for the church to survive it must attract parishioners from younger generations.
“Partly, we’re a very secular society,” he said. “It’s not the people my age who aren’t coming. The next generation is coming less. The next generation is coming even less.”
He said declining church attendance could be helped by using language that's relevant and accessible to youth.
Hennessy said the sexual abuse crisis within the clergy hurt the church tremendously and it will take time to rebuild trust.
The McLean County Museum of History honored Hennessy earlier this year as a History Maker.
He was ordained in 1963, during the Second Vatican Council, a time of great ferment in the Catholic Church.
“I was there the first two years of the council,” Hennessy told the museum. “I was very excited by Vatican II and I liked the changes.”
Diocese of Peoria Bishop Louis Tylka will celebrate a Mass for Hennessy at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at Holy Trinity in Bloomington. Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Sunday, at the church.
