Born Edward Hackett in Boston, Massachusetts on February 14, 1902 he attended Boston Preparatory School before he entered the Passionists. He was professed on August 15, 1920 and ordained on March 12, 1927. Father Hackett was a respected preacher in the United States and Canada. In 1943 he became a military chaplain in the Navy where he served in the Pacific Theater. When he was released from that assignment he became Passionist superior in Canada. He was instrumental in the building St. Gabriel’s Retreat in Toronto, Canada and it was through Father Hackett that the Passionists first employed the service of the architect Brother Cajetan Baunmann, O.F.M. In 1953 he was elected as Rector of St. Ann’s Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 1956 he was then made Rector of Immaculate Conception Retreat in Jamaica, New York. It was at that time that the Passionist School of Philosophy was set up there. In 1959 Father Hackett became Retreat Director at Holy Family Retreat, West Hartford, Connecticut. During his tenure over 50,000 men attended retreats. In 1969 he was sent to help develop the new retreat house in Riverdale, New York. There he began to suffer from cancer from which he eventually died.
Birth Date:
February 14, 1902
Profession Date:
August 15, 1920
Ordination Date:
March 12, 1927
Death Date:
September 10, 1971
Religious Name:
Felix of the Sorrowful Mother Hackett