Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. Dennis T. Dillon, SJ, who died on April 21, 2025 at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan. He was 86 years old. May he rest in peace.
Dennis was born on March 31, 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland (1956) before entering the Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus on August 8, 1956 at Milford Jesuit Novitiate in Milford, Ohio. Dennis was ordained on February 1, 1969 and pronounced final vows on April 22, 1978 at St. Patrick’s Church in Cleveland. While in the Society, Dennis earned a bachelor’s degree (1961) and a master’s degree (1964) in English from Loyola University Chicago. He earned a licentiate degree in philosophy from West Baden College in West Baden Springs, Indiana (1963). In 1970, he earned a master’s of divinity degree and a licentiate in Sacred Theology from Bellarmine School of Theology in North Aurora, Illinois. After ordination, Dennis earned a master’s degree (1971) and a doctorate (1976) in cinema studies from New York University. His thesis focused on the film reviewing of W. Ward Marsh, the Cleveland Plain Dealer film critic from 1919-1969.
During regency, Dennis taught English and speech at his alma mater, Saint Ignatius High School (1963-1966). He helped start the Cleveland Urban Learning Community, an alternative high school (i.e., a “school without walls”) which was formed in 1970 as an experimental program of Saint Ignatius High School. During his doctoral studies, he taught film studies at Cleveland State University (1974-1975) and, while writing his dissertation, was an instructor of communications at John Carroll University and director of “Cleveland on Stage”, a program in which four major cultural institutions performed on the campus of John Carroll University (1975-1976). In addition to his studies and teaching, Dennis spent time each week performing prison ministry. Upon completion of his doctoral studies, he spent three years (1977-1980) working in the Detroit Province Office as the coordinator of social apostolates and the director of the Midwest Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC). After a year as acting pastor of St. Patrick’s Church (1980), Dennis spent over a decade working in parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit. He was the associate pastor of Most Holy Trinity Church (1980-1981), the pastor of St. Brigid Parish (1981-1987), and the pastor of Gesu Parish (1987-1993). In addition, he was superior of the Gesu Parish Jesuit Community (1987-1993).
Dennis spent a sabbatical year teaching English and communications at the Jesuit Training Center in Kathmandu, Nepal, before being missioned to Cleveland where was superior of the Jesuit Spirituality Mission Community (1994-1997), director of the Cleveland Spirituality Team (1994-1997), and performed retreat ministry at Jesuit Retreat Center in Cleveland (1997-2002). He was pastor of Holy Rosary/ St. John Parish in Columbus, Ohio (2002-2008) before being missioned to pastoral ministry at St. Mary Student Parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan (2009-2020). In addition to his duties as pastor, he was the Detroit Province provincial assistant for formation (1999-2007). In 2020, Dennis was missioned to Colombiere Center to pray for the Church and the Society.
Dennis was a pastor at heart who drew strength from the Eucharist and encouraged others to seek solace in the sacraments. With his smile and welcoming attitude, he engaged people and made them feel cared for. He cared for and worked with the poor and those on the margins.
Dennis, who had a poet’s heart and view of the world, often quoted poems in homilies, presentations, and in conversations. These references helped others to deepen their appreciation of art which helps one to better encounter God and their neighbors. An article in a 1975 edition of The Carroll News (i.e., the John Carroll University student newspaper) mentions this about Dennis’ views:
Speaking on the popularity of film, Dillon said films may be modern man’s way of experiencing art. He said film is a way of being in touch with one’s culture, and a way of finding out who we are. He said films give people things to talk about together, and gives insights into what it means to be an American. “Film makes us alive to a lot of things in the world,” he comments.
Fr. Robert Scullin, SJ, has these memories:
Dennis was a wonderful friend for over 50 years. Gentle, humble and also firm in his manner. I will miss his humor and presence dearly. He made room for a wide diversity of people in his life.
Fr. Gary Wright, SJ, states:
Dennis was one of the kindest, most gentle people I’ve ever known. For many years, we took our day off together, and although we would spend hours and hours discussing all manner of contested issues in church and ministry, I never heard him say anything negative about anyone. As we walked around the city, I was always amused by the number of children who were certain that he, with his long hair and beard, was Santa Claus. He had a poet’s eye and sensibilities, but also a heart for social justice. He got acquainted with the Catholic Worker when he was in grad school in New York, and developed an affection for that ministry and for the poor, and soon went on to become the director of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps when it was just beginning in our province (then Detroit Province) in Cleveland. As I led the Eucharistic procession through our church on Holy Thursday last week, my most enduring image of Dennis filled my mind’s eye: Dennis leading the same Holy Thursday procession at Gesu (Detroit) when he was pastor there. There was something about his manner of carrying the Blessed Sacrament that made him seem like an icon to me, an image of the human being bearing the presence of Christ as he walked through the world. It was fitting that he made his transitus at Easter to enter into the resurrection. I can only imagine that he and Pope Francis were welcomed together by St. Ignatius and others above, the great and the small together, companions of the same Lord in one ministry of love and service.
