Father Norman Francis Haddad, O.P. - Obituary

ather Norman Francis Haddad of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), died on Thursday, October 6, 2016, at Sacred Heart Home in Hyattsville, MD, where he had been receiving palliative care for terminal cancer. Besides his Dominican community, he is survived by his sisters Lillian (Mrs. Edward) Shaker of Middlebury, CT and Janet (Mrs. John) Hurley of Alexandria, VA, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Father Haddad was born on January 31, 1933, in Waterbury, CT, the son of Alfred and Adele (Corey) Haddad. He graduated from Providence College in 1954 with a major in Political Science, and entered the Dominican Province of St. Joseph immediately, making his first profession in 1955. He was ordained on June 9, 1961, at St. Dominic’s Church in Washington, DC, where he served first as parochial vicar from 1962-1972, and then as pastor from 1981-1993. In 2008, he returned to St. Dominic’s Priory to an active retirement, engaging in many ministries in the city and serving as sub-prior of the Dominican community. He served in parish ministry at several other Dominican churches, in Columbia, SC, Charlottesville, VA, and Louisville, KY, and for seven years he was prior of a Dominican retreat house in Dover, MA. He served the Province of St. Joseph as Prior Provincial (major superior) from 1997 to 2002. Fr. Haddad’s gentle and wise humanity won him much affection, both in parish ministry and as a religious superior. In old age, at St. Dominic’s in Washington, where he lived for so many years, he made himself useful to his brethren in a multitude of ways. His hobby of searching for valuable items in thrift shops, and then selling them at a profit to benefit his Dominican community, caused his brethren both amusement and admiration. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Dominic’s Church, 630 E Street SW, Washington, DC, at 10 AM on Wednesday, October 12. Wake in the Church on Tuesday, October 11, from 4 to 7 PM.