Rev. Francis T. Cafarelli, C.S.C.

REV. FRANCIS T. CAFARELLI, C.S.C.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Rev. Francis Theodore Cafarelli, C.S.C., 92, died at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind., on June 5, 2026, after a short illness.

Fr. Cafarelli was born in Schenectady, N.Y., on November 22, 1933, to Rocco A. and Mary A. Cafarelli and was the youngest of three sons. After graduating from Mont Pleasant High School in Schenectady, N.Y. in 1951, he received his bachelor’s degree from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1955. He received his master’s degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1956. In 1958, he entered the Congregation of Holy Cross as a postulant and entered the Holy Cross Novitiate in Bennington, Vt., a year later. He made First Vows in Holy Cross on August 16, 1960 and continued Theology studies at Holy Cross College in Washington, D.C., from 1961-1965, earning a master’s degree. He was ordained a Holy Cross priest on May 27, 1965.

After ordination in 1965, Fr. Cafarelli served as a teacher at Notre Dame High School in Bridgeport, Conn., for five years. From 1970-1973, he served as a teacher/chaplain at Cardinal Mooney High School in Rochester, N.Y., before assisting at Moreau Seminary in Notre Dame, Ind. from 1973-1976. In 1974, he earned a master’s degree in philosophy from the State University of New York, in Brockport, N.Y. Beginning in 1976 Fr. Cafarelli began assisting at the University of Notre Dame in various roles, while earning a master’s degree in political philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in 1977. He served as the Director of Student Accounts from 1979-1984, as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs from 1984-1986, and as adjunct instructor from 1987-1988. In 1988 Fr. Cafarelli felt a call to discern a possible vocation to a more contemplative life, spending the next fifteen years living as a Benedictine monk at St. Anselm Abbey in Manchester, N.H. In 2003, he decided to return to Holy Cross, serving as the Assistant to the President at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. from 2003 to 2007. Fr. Cafarelli was then asked to join the formation staff at Moreau Seminary, serving as the Postulant Director until 2017. Beginning in 2017, he resided at Corby Hall at Notre Dame for five years, before residing at Holy Cross House in Notre Dame, Ind. until his passing.

Preceding Fr. Cafarelli in death are his parents and brothers, George and Daniel. He is survived by five nieces and a nephew.

A Wake Service will be held on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Moreau Seminary and Scholasticate, Notre Dame, Ind. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. ET at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, Ind. You may join via livestream at https://funerals.holycrossusa.org  Burial will be in the community cemetery at Notre Dame.

 Kaniewski Funeral Home, South Bend, is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of
Advancement, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765 or online at
https://donate.holycrossusa.org

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