1932 – 2024 (March 9)
James Laughlin MacDougal, O.S.A., was born on November 12, 1932, in New York, New York, the son of Donald H. and Catherine A. (Loftus) MacDougall. He had 2 brothers. He was baptized on December 4, 1932, at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, Bronx, New York. He attended elementary school first at Good Shepherd Parish from 1938 to 1941 and then at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish from 1941 to 1946, where he continued in the parish high school from 1946 to 1949. He then entered as a postulant for his fourth year of high school at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, in September 1949, and graduated in 1950. He was received into the Order as a novice on September 9, 1950, and after a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, New York, he professed first vows on September 10, 1951. He then attended Villanova University from 1951 to 1955 and graduated with a BA in Philosophy. Next, he went to Augustinian College, Washington, DC, for his theological studies from 1955 to 1959. He professed solemn vows on September 10, 1954. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 1959, by Bishop John McNamara at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC. In 1960, he received an MA in American History from Villanova University.
Fr. Jim’s first assignment was to Msgr. Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, where he served for ten years from 1959 to 1969 as a teacher of History and Religion. In 1969, he went to Biscayne College (later named Saint Thomas University) in Miami, Florida, where he served from 1969 to 2015. He resided at the community friary, Casa San Lorenzo, where he served for many years as the prior of the Augustinian community. In the school, he served in many capacities: as teacher of History, Religious Studies, and American Political Science; as campus minister; as chair of the Social Sciences Division; and as prefect in the student dormitory. In 2005, he went from full time to part time teaching and continued to help in campus ministry. He studied Spanish and throughout his years at the school he worked with both the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking students, staff and faculty of the school. When the decision was made to close Casa San Lorenzo, Fr. Jim was assigned on July 25, 2015, to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Friary, Bronx, New York. In July 2019, he was assigned to live at St. Thomas Monastery. Fr. Jim found blessing and joy in the simple things like traveling with his brother, solving the NY Times crossword puzzle, walking to the Goodwill store in the Bronx to browse through used books, or simply sitting in quiet prayer. Fr. Jim passed away peacefully March 9, 2024 at the Monastery.
Funeral arrangements for
Fr. James Laughlin MacDougall, O.S.A. are as follows:
Viewing and Funeral Mass:
Friday, March 15, 2024
St. Thomas of Villanova Church
Villanova University Campus
800 E. Lancaster Ave.
Villanova, PA
9:00 -10:00 AM (Viewing)
10:00 AM (Mass)
Burial:
Following the Funeral Mass
Friday, March 15, 2024
Calvary Cemetery
West Conshohocken, PA
