Fr. Timothy (Tim) Church

Timothy Alan Church was born May 28, 1949 in Lansing, Michigan to parents Leonard and Jane (Casady) Church. Father Tmothy Alan Church passed away at his home surrounded by his family on August 15th, 2018, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.

Fr. Tim, a dedicated Catholic priest, was married for fifty years and had three children and six grandchildren. His gift for storytelling and fun, his love of fly fishing, backpacking, and the outdoors, his passion for learning, and his respect for others continue to inspire all who loved him. Many used the words “pioneer” and “visionary” when speaking of Fr. Tim. His simple ways led to grand results.

Fr. Tim earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology at UT Arlington in 1971 and a master’s Degree in Theology in 1975 from Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary in Wisconsin. He was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1975 and served in several Episcopal parishes: Church of the Epiphany in Richardson, Texas, All Saints in Duncan, Oklahoma, and Holy Nativity in Plano, Texas. He served as an Episcopal priest for 20 years before converting to the Catholic Church.

As a former Episcopal priest, under the Pastoral Provision granted by Pope John Paul II, he was ordained a Catholic Priest on February 18, 1995. As a Catholic priest, he ministered at the parishes of St. Ann in Coppell, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Plano, and was assigned as Priest in Charge at St. Jude in Allen in 1999. Bishop Farrell petitioned the Vatican for Fr. Tim to be designated as Pastor of St. Jude, and in August 2012, this extraordinary exception to the Pastoral Provision was granted—a great honor and privilege to him.

Fr. Tim was unique as a married Catholic priest. In 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Linda, who was his anchor throughout his life. He was most proud of being a father to his three children and “Pop” to six grandchildren. He taught his family an appreciation for nature, how to fish, how to stock a tool box, but most important, how to persevere in suffering by always looking to the Cross.

Throughout his priesthood, one of Fr. Tim's passions was to be involved in the expansion of the Church. This can be seen at several of the parishes where he served. He had a gift for designing and uniting a parish to expand its church structures and to create valuable programs and outreach efforts. Bringing the community together was an important part of his ministry, reaching all the way to Honduras. He was also well known for his ability to inspire an active and dynamic faith community. He was a teacher by nature and was known for the thought-provoking, storytelling style of his homilies. He looked forward to someday bringing the community of Allen together through the sounds of a bell tower and expanding the Education Center at St. Jude to further support our youth.

When his illnesses were progressing and his role of service to his parish was changing, he said to his family that God had still given him the grace to finish his calling. When asked about his mission, he said with great joy, "To get the bulk of mankind to heaven!" Being at the altar was very important to him and he would make every effort to celebrate Mass until his last days. Fr. Tim loved the community of St. Jude, and everyone that he has served, and often said that serving the people was the happiest time of his life.

Fr. Tim's family deeply appreciates the care and support of Fr. Tim during his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Multiple Myeloma and the support of our journey during the final years of his life.

Tim is survived by his loving wife Linda Church, daughter Angela Harrison, sons Christopher Church and his wife Karyn Becker, Dr Gregory Church and his wife Tina, grandchildren Luke and Lily Harrison, Ava Becker Church, Hope, AnneMarie and Mark Church, brothers Tom Church and his wife Jackie, Dan Church and his wife Marsha, mother-in-law Mary Lou Smith, sister-in-law, Susan Bilardi and her husband Matt and many loving nieces, nephews, parishioners and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Peggy Conway, son-in-law Billy Harrison, father in-law Charles Smith, brother in law and sister in law, Don and Sandy Shipp.

Father Tim will lie in state on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 from 3:00-7:00 P.M. at St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 N Greenville Ave., Allen, Texas 75002. The  Vigil will begin at 7:00 P.M., with His Excellency, The Most Reverend Greg Kelly, Auxillary Bishop of Dallas, presiding; with Rosary to follow.  The Knights of Columbus will stand as Honor Guard overnight from 9:00 P.M. until 9:00 A.M. Thursday morning.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, August 23, 2018 at St. Jude Catholic Church with His Excellency, His Excellency, The Most Reverend Edward Burns, Bishop of Dallas and The Reverend Andrew Semler and The Reverend Russ Mower as con-celebrants.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Father Tim’s name to St. Jude Catholic Church for the Bell Tower Fund and Building Expansion Project.