Saddened and shocked were the two words that spread across St. Mary Parish, Franklin, following the news of the death of the much-loved senior priest in residence and former parochial vicar, Father John L. Sullivan, on Oct. 13, 2024.

The Boston native was born on May 10, 1948, one of the 10 children of the late John and Mary (Healy) Sullivan. His late father was a US Army veteran, and his late mother had been a teacher in the Boston Public Schools. His uncle, the late Msgr. Timothy E. Sullivan, was also a priest of the archdiocese.

The family lived in Roslindale and Jack, as he was known among priests, attended Sacred Heart Parish School. There, he was a classmate of another parishioner, Brian Manning. The two remained friends throughout their lives, and were classmates not only at Sacred Heart, but also at Boston College High School and St. John Seminary. Only during college years were they not classmates, as Brian went immediately to Cardinal O'Connell Seminary in Jamaica Plain, while Jack went to Boston College, majoring in classical languages. They were reunited for theology studies at St. John Seminary and were ordained with other members of the Class of 1974 at Holy Cross Cathedral by Humberto Cardinal Medeiros on May 18, 1974.

Father Sullivan's first assignment was as an associate at St. Patrick, Natick. His pastor, the late Msgr. Joseph Mahoney, dubbed the "general" because of his regular references to his service as a chaplain in World War II, provided Jack and other "curates" with much entertainment and with endless stories.

His degree in classics from Boston College was soon put to good use as he was sent to the Eternal City to pursue graduate studies in Sacred Scripture with a specialization in Old Testament.

His Boston College degree had been given a firm foundation at Boston College High School, where he studied Greek and was a member of the Homeric Academy. Father John Howard, SJ, of Campion Center, Weston, was a Jesuit scholastic at BC High at the time, and taught Jack Greek. He was among the best students. Father Howard told The Pilot that "Jack maintained a lifelong devotion to his high school alma mater."

Following four years of graduate studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University -- "the Greg" -- he returned to St. John Seminary and was assigned to its faculty in 1980, teaching Old Testament.

That assignment would last for the next quarter century, and during those years, he helped form, not only in the classroom but by kindly support and good humor, several generations of priests of the archdiocese.

Always self-effacing, he took on extra tasks within the seminary. Father Howard told of this one. The seminary was to be visited for its accreditation renewal; this required someone to coordinate the whole thing and to write the self-evaluation. When Father Howard would compliment Jack on the job assigned, he wryly remarked, "I was the only faculty member, after all, who was willing to do it."

He returned to parish life, first to the seminary's parish -- St. Columbkille, Brighton in 2005. A year later, he was named the administrator of St. Gerard Majella Parish, Canton, and in 2006, he was named the parish's pastor.

After one term at the parish, he became parochial vicar at St. Mary, Franklin, and reunited with his classmate, Father Brian J. Manning, who was the pastor of the parish. He remained there during all of Father Manning's tenure and as senior priest in residence with the newly named pastor, Father Robert Poitras.

Father Sullivan was also a devoted alumnus of Boston College, attending alumni events and class reunions. He was also a regular presence at BC's Ministry to Priest program, delighted in being back on the "Brighton" Campus and at the library where he had spent many hours both as student and faculty member.

Father Sullivan's funeral Mass was celebrated on Oct. 24, 2024, at St. Mary, Franklin. The principal celebrant was West Regional Bishop Robert P. Reed, and the homilist was his classmate and lifelong friend, Father Brian Manning. Among those indicating they would be concelebrating were Father Poitras; Father John Tanyi, present parochial vicar at the parish; Father Sullivan's high school Greek teacher, Father John Howard, SJ; and Father Joseph M. Hennessey, Regina Cleri Residence, Boston.

Father Sullivan's immediate survivors are siblings: Timothy, Norfolk; William, Nahua, N.H.; Andrew, Norwood; Mark, Weymouth; Mary Graff, Marshfield; Brian, Westwood; and Peter, Franklin.

Following the funeral Mass, Father Sullivan was buried in St. Mary Cemetery, Franklin.