Rev. John Joseph Travers, CSsR, (Redemptorist), the son of the deceased Henry Travers from Donegal, Ireland, a maintenance worker at Harvard Medical School and, also deceased, Mary Josephine Donnelly of Galway Ireland, a registered Nurse at New England Hospital for Women and Children, died on June 23, 2016, in the Neumann Residence, a health care facility in Timonium, Maryland. He was surrounded by his Redemptorist confreres and the residence staff. He leaves his older sister, Margaret, a Missionary in Japan, his brother Thomas, also a Redemptorist Priest, and a younger Henry and his wife, Elizabeth, and children, Marie and Tom, in Foxboro, Ma. He was pre-deceased by his uncle Michael Donnelly, and Larry Travers of Lynn, Ma. and aunts Rose and Agnes of Dorchester, Ma. Fr. John was born in Boston on April 3, 1934. He attended Mission Grammar School where he sang in the choir and played the violin in the orchestra. At this time he developed his love for the Boston sports teams, especially the Boston Braves. He kept their statistics in copy- books and once he proudly received a letter from a Boston Sports writer praising him for his voluminous knowledge of the members of that team. When he graduated, he entered the Redemptorist Minor Seminary at North East, Pa. Later he went to the Redemptorist Novitiate in Ilchester, Md. where he professed his temporary vows as a Redemptorist in 1955. He was ordained a priest in 1960 at Mount Saint Alphonsus, the Redemptorist Major Semiary. Upon graduation, he was sent to the Angelicum, a Dominican College in Rome where he earned a degree in Canon Law. When he returned to the United States, he was assigned as assistant pastor at St Mary’s in Annapolis, Md., and later at St Anthony’s in Lancaster, Pa. In 1975, he was assigned to Perpetual Help Parish in Edgewater, Md. and was named Pastor. He stayed there for 12 years during a time of great expansion. Together with a very active Parish Council, a new parish complex was begun in 1977 and finished on Easter Sunday, 1980 when the first Mass was offered. From there he was assigned to our out-mission in New Holland, Pa. And later to Perpetual Help Parish in Brooklyn where he was assigned the Wednesday novena devotions in honor of Perpetual Help and the RCIA program for perspective Catholics. He was famous for his story-telling preaching style and for teaming with other members of the community for their successful RCIA program. His knowledge of computers, the Boston sports teams and electronics was legendary. And his devotion to Perpetual Help was his constant support. Services for Fr. John will take place on Thursday, June 30th at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help “Mission Church” 1545 Tremont St., Roxbury MA. Family and friends are invited to a viewing at from 8:30 to 10 am, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at the Redemptorist burial site at Old Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Perpetual Help Ministry at Mission Church, 1545 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02120.
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