Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

(From the March 17, 2005 edition of the Inland Register)

Jesuit Father James G. Powers, 73, died March 6 in the infirmary of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus at Gonzaga University.

The vigil service was March 13 in Jesuit House Chapel at GU. The funeral Mass was celebrated the next day at St. Aloysius Church, Spokane; burial followed at Mount St. Michael’s Cemetery on March 15.

James Powers was born at Sacred Heart Hospital, Spokane. He attended elementary school at St. Francis Xavier and high school at Gonzaga Prep, Spokane.

He entered the Jesuit novitiate after graduating from high school in 1949. After his profession of first vows and additional studies at Sheridan, he returned to Spokane to continue his education by obtaining a licentiate in philosophy at Mount Saint Michael’s and a master’s degree in English literature from Gonzaga. He taught at Seattle Prep from 1954-58, when he began his studies for ordination at Alma College and Santa Clara University.

After his ordination to the priesthood in 1962, he continued his graduate studies in English and philology at the University of Colorado, from which he earned a Ph.D. in 1966. He was then assigned to Seattle University, where he taught English literature from 1966 to 1984. During his tenure at SU, he also served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1975 to 1980. He also served on the Board of Trustees and Board of Members of SU.

In 1985, he returned to Gonzaga, where he served several terms at different times on the Board of Members, and joined the English department, where he also served for a time as chair. In 2003, due to declining health, he stepped down from the classroom but continued his scholarly pursuits and received the title Professor Emeritus.

His published works include the books A Cultivated Vocabulary, Handbook of Helpers, and When the Saints Come Marching In. He also published in The Washington Anthology, Studies in Short Fiction, Human Development, and The Bible Today.

Sister Patricia (Ursula) Corcoran of the Sinsinawa Dominicans died in Sinsinawa, Wis., Feb. 26 at the age of 86.

The funeral Mass was celebrated March 1 in Queen of the Rosary Chapel, followed by burial in the motherhouse cemetery.

Patricia Cor-coran made her first Religious profession as Sister Ursula on Jan. 4, 1941, and her final profession on Aug. 7, 1944.

For 35 years she taught elementary school; for another 19 years, she served as a hospital volunteer and hospital support staff. She retired to the Dominican motherhouse in 1996.

Her ministries took her to a number of states, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Montana, and Washington. In the Diocese of Spokane, she taught for two years at St. John Vianney School, Spokane.

Memorials may be made to Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701.

Sister Catherine Palmatier of the Sisters of Providence died Feb. 24 at Mt. St. Joseph, Spokane. She was 89 years old; she had been a member of her Religious community for 71 years.

The vigil was Feb. 26; the funeral Mass, Feb. 28. Both took place at Mt. St. Joseph. She was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Spokane.

She was born in South Dakota. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, Missoula, Mont., in 1933, and the next year entered the Providence novitiate in Seattle. She professed final vows in 1938.

She held a bachelor’s degree from the College of Great Falls, and a Clinical Pastoral Education certificate from Providence Oakland Medical Center.

Sister Catherine was engaged in numerous ministries over the years: as teacher, bookkeeper, prefect of resident women at the College of Great Falls, Dean of Women at St. Patrick Hospital School of Nursing in Missoula, and in pastoral care at that hospital, from 1982-2001, when she retired to Mt. St. Joseph.

Donations in memory of Sister Catherine, to support the ministries of the Sisters of Providence, may be sent to: Sisters of Providence, Office of Development, 9 E. 9th Ave., Spokane, WA 99202-1209.