Father William (Bill) F. Condon

Rev. William F. Condon died on July 27, 2016 at St. Luke’s Hospital in The Woodlands, TX. He was 89 years old.  Father Condon was born on April 20, 1927 in Joliet, IL.

In his 62 years of priesthood Father Condon fully embraced the power of Liturgy.  His pastoring and his powerful sermons were his trademarks.  When asked for a copy of his sermons, speeches and notes he always said that he did not have any.  He spoke from his heart and his mind.  Father Condon was a lifelong fan of both the Chicago Cubs and Notre Dame Football.  He was fond of travelling, especially to his beloved Ireland, playing bridge with his many companions and enjoying the company of all he encountered.  He lived in the moment and involved everyone in conversation.   He also sang his favorite songs out loud in his booming voice even when there was no music to accompany him.

Father Condon’s education included schooling at St. Raymond Nonnatus and Joliet Catholic High School, both in Joliet, IL.  In 1945 he began his priestly training at Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, IL.  From there he enrolled at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, IL in 1947.

Father Condon was ordained into priesthood on May 1, 1954 by most Rev. Martin D. McNamara at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, Joliet, IL. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Patrick Church and the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, both in Joliet, IL, before being named in 1963 as the founding Pastor of St. Raphael Church in Naperville, IL, where he remained until 1978.

After 1963, Father Condon was an enthusiastic promotor of the vision of the Church proclaimed in the deliberation of Vatican Council II and embodied in its documents. He encouraged laity to take ownership of their Church deriving from the power of their Baptism. Father Condon felt strongly that only when all give full, conscious and active participation will we know and feel the fulfillment of God’s presence in His Church.

After a sabbatical year and brief service at St. Joseph, Downers Grove, IL, and St Mark, Wheaton, IL, Farther Condon moved to the Diocese of Richmond, VA.  There he served as Pastor at three parishes, Church of the Redeemer, Mechanicsville, VA, St. Edward the Confessor, Richmond, VA, and St Ann, Colonial Heights, VA from where he retired from active pastoring in 1997.

In retirement Father Condon lived in Clarksville, VA until January 2001 when he moved to Mesa, AZ to be closer to the Cubs spring training facility.  He continued ministering at weekend Liturgies, primarily at St. Dominic in Rio Verde, AZ and Mission of Ascension Church in Fountain Hills, AZ.  In 2012, he performed a brief period of service with Hospice of the Valley ministering to dying Catholic patients in the region. Father Condon’s last residence was at the Verandah Retirement Community in Lake Charles, LA where he moved in 2014 to be close to family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John R. Condon and Cecile M. (Bannon) Condon, his brother Patrick, his brothers-in-law William Flavin and William Hartmann, his sister-in-law Norma (Steinke) Condon and nephew Patrick Hartmann.  Surviving are two sisters Marilyn (Condon) Flavin of Lake Charles, LA and Virginia (Condon) Hartmann of Joliet, IL as well as 21 nieces/nephews and numerous grand-nieces/nephews and great-grand-nieces/nephews.   “Father Bill”, as he was known by his nieces and nephews, was a Great Uncle to all!   He enjoyed spending many holidays, attending sporting events and vacationing with his many family members.  He was also overwhelmingly requested as the presiding priest at numerous family 1st Communions, weddings and funerals.

Visitation is scheduled from 3:00-5:00pm with a Scripture Service to follow at 5:00pm on Saturday July 30, 2016 at the Verandah Retirement Community in Lake Charles, LA where Father Condon’s many friends in the area can pay their respects.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Final arrangements for visitation and a Mass of Christian Burial at a Church in the Joliet, IL area are pending and will be arranged by Fred C Dames Funeral Home.

Father Condon will be placed in eternal rest at a family plot in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Joliet IL.