Submitted by: Dan Rich

Rev. Jacob A. Smith CSC

Oct. 2, 1925 – Feb. 17, 1982

South Bend Tribune 2/18/1982

Rev. Jacob A. Smith CSC, 56, of Holy Cross Provincial House, died at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday in St. Joseph Medical Center, South Bend, after a lengthy illness. He was born on Oct. 2, 1925, in Evanston, Ill. and attended St. Mary’s parochial school and St. George High School in Evanston. After serving with the Navy from 1943 to 1946, he entered Sacred Heart Novitiate, South Bend in 1950. He made his first profession of vows in the Congregation of Holy Cross on Aug. 16, 1951. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1953, and after theological studies at Holy Cross College, Washington DC, he was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1957, in Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame. Throughout his community life he served in many capacities. He taught at Notre Dame High School, Niles, Ill., and was on the staff of Fatima Retreat Center at Notre Dame from 1858 to 1970 and from 1971 to 1973. He was religious superior there from 1964 to 1970. He also served as chaplain for the Holy Cross Sisters at St. Mary’s, and Holy Cross Brothers, Columba Hall, Notre Dame. He was assistant director of Harvest House, South Bend, and director of human development for the diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. From 1978 to 1981 he was pastor of Holy Cross Parish, South Bend. Prior to his illness, he had also served as associate pastor of St. Pius Parish in Granger.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, with burial in the Community Cemetery. Friends may call after 3:30 p.m. Friday at Holy Cross Church, where a wake will be observed at 7:30 p.m.