Glasgow, Dennis T. (Father)

Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. Dennis T. Glasgow, SJ, who died on March 7, 2024 at St. Joseph / Trinity Health Oakland Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan. He was 72 years old. May he rest in peace.

Dennis is survived by his siblings: Peter Glasgow and Judith Beeker. He is preceded in death by his siblings: John Matwiejczyk and Pamela Glasgow.

Dennis was born on May 21, 1951 in Wyandotte, Michigan. Before entering the Society, he earned a bachelor’s degree in French and secondary education from the University of Michigan (1974). He entered the Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus on September 5, 1976 at Loyola House Jesuit Novitiate in Berkley, Michigan. He was ordained a priest on June 16, 1984 at Gesu Parish in Detroit, Michigan, and pronounced final vows on April 22, 2005 at St. Mary’s Student Parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

While in the Society, Dennis earned a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Detroit (1979). He earned a licentiate in sacred theology from Centre Sèvres in Paris, France (1984), a master’s degree in theology from Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts (1985), and a licentiate degree in sacred scriptures from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy (1992). He also did doctoral studies in biblical theology studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute (1992-1996).

During regency, Dennis taught French at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (1979-1981). After ordination, he was the director of campus ministry at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio (1985-1988). In 1996 while Dennis was writing his dissertation at Gesu Parish in University Heights, Ohio, he had a major heart attack and spent some years caring for his health. He was missioned to be the associate pastor at St. Mary Student Parish in Ann Arbor (2000-2012). In 2012, Dennis moved to Colombiere Center to care for his health and pray for the Church and the Society.

Dennis was rooted in Christ and the Eucharist. His relationship with Jesus deepened throughout his life as he experienced challenges, health issues, and setbacks. These difficult experiences helped Dennis to realize Christ’s unlimited love for him. Because his faith was like “gold that had been tested in fire”, Dennis had a great capacity to listen to people — especially people experiencing difficulties or challenges in their lives. People who spoke with Dennis felt that he not only listened to them but really heard what they were saying. His own struggles helped Dennis to respond to others with love and compassion. Fr. Don Vettese, SJ, a novitiate classmate, expressed: “Dennis took joy in his life as a Jesuit. He had a sensitive and gentle soul that made him, for me, easy to be with. God bless Dennis as he enters eternal life.” 

Fr. Peter Bernardi, SJ, a novitiate classmate of Dennis, states:

Dennis Glasgow was a gentle, warm-hearted, balanced, prayerful Jesuit with a gift for languages and multi-cultural friendships, a dedication to Scripture [an SSL from the Biblicum], and a love for sacramental and pastoral ministry. Among his friends were Cardinal Lustiger and Martin Sheen. He was especially devoted to his younger sister Pamela who was afflicted with Down’s Syndrome. He bore the cross of his own poor health with patience and fortitude. Freed from his bodily infirmities, may Dennis be welcomed into eternal communion with our Lord and all the saints!

Fr. Tom Florek, SJ, also a novitiate classmate, has these memories of Dennis:

Denny, a happy and peaceful fellow Jesuit who cared deeply for his sister Pamela with Down’s Syndrome together with his family, had a pastoral gift to work & socialize effectively among diverse groups of people. He moved with ease among our Jesuit novitiate class as he did with friends and colleagues during his time of Scripture studies in Rome, at Gesu Parish in University Heights (Cleveland), at St. Mary’s Student Parish in Ann Arbor, especially among the Spanish speaking community.

Dennis’ gift of heart was also his cross. While unable to perform most pastoral duties because of a weakened heart, Dennis became an active community member of the Colombiere community. Denny helped arrange our 45th Novitiate class reunion at Colombiere which brought together dispersed members of our class of 1976. His welcoming hospitality was a gift for all of us. We’re grateful for Denny’s friendship. 

Fr. John Ferone, SJ, has these thoughts about Dennis:

Dennis was a man of passion who knew how to enjoy life. He had a number of passions close to his heart. He loved the world of books and scholarship. I think he could have spent his entire life in school, or at least in a well stocked library. The Scriptures, especially the Gospel of Luke held endless fascination for him. And I believe he was at his best when he was preaching on Luke.

Dennis loved being a Jesuit priest and loved being deeply involved with the Church. He would often share some of the moments where he most felt the Church to be his home, the places he prayed and ministered, the people he met, many of whom were bishops and cardinals. Many of these encounters and activities took place in Paris. And I’m not sure if he ever felt so much at home, or in love with the Church, as he did in Paris.

Dennis had a true passion for everything French. Its history, culture, language, architecture, music, literature and its food.  Food, in fact — and not just French food — was one of Dennis’s great joys. He knew how to appreciate a well prepared and presented meal. He knew how to savor wine. And he especially enjoyed long, deep conversations, sometimes for hours with a gathering of friends at the table.

But perhaps what was closest to his heart was revealed when he spoke about his family, especially about his younger sister Pamela who had Down Syndrome. Pamela was an inspiration for Dennis: her simplicity, her overwhelming sense of childlike love, her enthusiasm and appreciation for everything, her gratitude. Dennis would often speak of her and how easy it was to find Jesus in her, in his homilies, Pamela gave Dennis another way of seeing and living in the world, a world of beauty, a world of joy, but also a world where there can be long-term suffering. I believe that Dennis learned a lot from his younger sister. And I have no doubt that it was reflecting on her life that gave Dennis a model to follow, especially in the last years, where he battled his own numerous health issues, his growing to depend more and more on others, and his ongoing challenge to accept his own human limitations.