Father Raymond O’Keefe, C.P., Holy Cross Province (1856-1913)

Born September 2, 1856 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Patrick O’Keefe and Bridget Cassidy. He entered the Passionist novitiate in Pittsburgh and professed his vows on September 15, 1881. He had the opportunity to engage in theological studies prior to entering the Passionists; so he was ordained on August 30, 1886. He was a preacher and held positions of leadership: professor, director of students, vicar and rector. He took a great interest in fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life and wrote the book The Call of the Master which made it to a second edition. His weak health often led him to study and prayer when he was not preaching. Just prior to his death in 1913 he had arrived back at Normandy, Missouri from a parish mission in Palestine, Texas. He died at Alexian Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri as a result of typhoid fever which had been diagnosed upon his return from the mission.