Submitted by: Dan Rich

Rev. James B. Gillis, CSC

Feb. 15, 1925 - Nov. 25, 2008

South Bend Tribune 11/29/2008
NOTRE DAME - Rev. James B. Gillis CSC, 83, passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2008, in Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN. Fr. Gillis was born February 15, 1925 in Hammond, IN to Bernard and Florence Moser Gillis. He attended St. Joseph Grade School in Hammond for grades 1-5 and Holy Rosary in Chicago for grades 6-8. He graduated from Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond in 1943. Following graduation from high school, he was drafted into the Army. In August of 1944 he was badly wounded in the leg. He spent six months in various military hospitals and was discharged in February of 1945. After a semester at Purdue University, he then worked in the oil business and in sales. It was then that he recalled a vocation talk he attended in high school given by Fr. John Wilson, C.S.C. He contacted the Congregation of Holy Cross and "enlisted" for a different type of service. Fr. Gillis began his seminary formation at Holy Cross Seminary at Notre Dame in 1947. He entered the novitiate and received the habit on August 15, 1949, professing first vows on August 16, 1950. From 1950-52, Fr. Gillis resided at Moreau Seminary and attended classes at Notre Dame. Following graduation he moved to Washington, D.C. for theological studies at Holy Cross College. Fr. Gillis was ordained by Bishop Noll on June 6, 1956 at Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame. His first assignment was to Holy Cross Parish in South Bend. In 1958 he moved across town to St. Joseph Parish. He was assigned to St. Patrick Parish in South Bend in 1960 and then to Christ the King Parish for 1963-64. Following this assignment, he then moved from the South Bend area to Sacred Heart Parish in New Orleans. In 1967 Fr. Gillis returned to South Bend to serve at St. Patrick Parish where he stayed until 1974. After a year in the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis, Fr. Gillis served as chaplain at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis until 1978. After a semester at the Notre Dame Clergy Renewal Program at the end of 1978, he then returned to hospital chaplaincy. He was assigned to serve at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, IL, while in residence with the Holy Cross Community at Notre Dame High School in Niles, IL. Fr. Gillis was assigned to St. Pius X Parish in Granger in 1981. In 1984 he returned to where he began 29 years earlier: Holy Cross Parish in South Bend. Father moved to Saint Mary's Convent as chaplain to the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1987. In 1994 he moved to Ventura, CA to serve as chaplain to the Sisters of the Holy Cross at St. Catherine by the Sea Convent. In 1999 he was assigned to assist at Sacred Heart Parish, Notre Dame and in 2000 he moved to Holy Cross House. Fr. Gillis was preceded in death by his parents Bernard and Florence (Moser) Gillis. He is survived by his brother John (Betty) Gillis, several nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews.