Seán O'Riordan, C.Ss.R.

Father Seán O'Riordan, C.Ss.R., Professor Emeritus of the Alphonsian Academy passed away peacefully on January 26, 1998.

Father O'Riordan was born on October 18, 1916 in Tralee, Ireland. Father Seán entered the seminary and was professed a Redemptorist on September 8, 1935 and ordained to the priesthood on July 28, 1940.

Father O'Riordan was indeed a scholar's scholar. He obtained a License in Greek and Latin Literature and in Modern History from the National University of Ireland in 1943. Following this he went on to earn a Doctorate in Theology at the Pontifical Academy Maynooth, Ireland in 1947. He then returned to the National University and earned a second Doctorate in Modern History in 1948. He did post-doctoral studies in Germany in 1952-53 and from 1957-1958.

Father O'Riordan came to his beloved Alphonsian Academy as professor in 1958 and continued at the Academy directing doctoral dissertations until shortly before his last illness. From 1962, he was also professor at the Regina Mundi Pontifical Institute in Rome and in many theological faculties in Ireland, England and the United States. Father O'Riordan was instrumental in the early development and founding of the Alphonsian Academy. A scholar of world renown, he, together with other early Academy pioneers, formed the nucleus of a world class Faculty of Moral Theology which soon put the Alphonsian Academy at the forefront of Moral Theology.

Father Bruno Hidber, C.Ss.R., President of the Academy said: "This is a great loss for the world of Theology and in particular Moral Theology. Father O'Riordan was truly one of the greatest theologians we have been blessed with here at the Academy. Seán will be missed not only for his contributions to Moral Theology and to excellence in teaching, but also for his ever present smile, his total availability and willingness to be of service, and his gift of being a great Redemptorist confrere."

We ask you to join us in prayer for Father O'Riordan and his family.