Rev. James C. Rush

Rev. James C. Rush, 73, of West Hartford, retired co-pastor of St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Windsor passed away peacefully November 19, 2016 at St. Francis Hospital.

Born November 27, 1942 he was the son of the late and former West Hartford Chief of Police, William P. and Gladys C. (Watson) Rush. He leaves a brother and sister-in-law Superior Court Judge William B. and Sally Rush of Fairfield. Fr. Rush also leaves four nephews and two nieces-in-law; Kieran Rush of Fairfield, Timothy and Dana Rush of Greenville,SC., Brian Rush of Fairfield, and David and Alicen Rush of Fairfield. He also leaves several grand nephews and nieces; William, Katherine, Collin, Brendan, Aidan, Jamie, and Julia. Fr. Rush was predeceased in religion, by an uncle and late Rev. Thomas J. Rush, M.S., a missionary LaSalette, and two cousins, Sr. Patricia Nolan OP., a Dominican nun of Chicago, IL, and Sr. Noreen Nolan, O.P., of Santa Cruz,Ca.

Fr. Rush graduated from St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Hartford, Ct. He completed his seminary studies in preparation for priesthood at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, St. Bernard Seminary and the Colgate-Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, NY, The Pontifical North American College and the Gregorian University in Rome. He also spent two summer semesters at The “alliance Francaise” in Paris. He was ordained a deacon at St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome and served an internship at St. Aloysius Parish of the Archdiocese of Westminster in London, England. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Hartford at St. Peter Basilica in Rome on December 20, 1968 by the Most Reverend Francis Reh, Rector of the North American College and celebrated his first Mass the next day in the chapel of the Lasalette College. As a student-priest, he worked for Vatican Radio, was a campus-minister at Loyola University in Rome, and volunteered at an orphanage in Nettuno. Returning to the United States, he celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving with family and friends at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, in July of 1969, followed by a spirited reception at the Hedges in New Britain.

Fr. Rush served at St. Louis of France Parish in West Haven, St Augustine Parish in Hartford’s South End, St Justin Parish in Hartford’s North End and St Gabriel Parish in Windsor. He completed his clinical pastoral education (CPE) at Hartford Hospital and Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Ma. and was a board-certified chaplain at Manchester Memorial Hospital for eleven years while in residence at St. Christopher Parish, East Hartford. He was a police chaplain and priest director of St. Louis School in West Haven, a Hartford Deanery CYO director and instructor in the marriage Tribunal of the Archdiocese, Director of Religious Education (DRE) at St. Augustine Parish, a religion teacher at South Catholic High School and St. Mary Elementary School in Newington, a chaplain to the St. Justin Fife and Drum Corps, who especially enjoyed marching in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a member of the Child Advocacy Team in Manchester, a Knight’s Team in Manchester, a Knight’s of Columbus chaplain, a counselor and sponsor for Alcoholics Anonymous, a member of Priests for Life, a supporter of Birthright – an ardent Pro-Life advocate. He was an enthusiastic participant in the annual telethon for Catholic Schools sponsored by the Office of Radio & Television of the Archdiocese.

Fr. Rush’s family will receive relatives and friends at the Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, 136 South Main St., West Hartford. Between 3-7pm on Friday November 25, 2016. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Thomas the Apostle Church 872 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, at 11 am on Saturday November 26, 2016. The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, Archbishop of Hartford, will preside. Burial will follow immediately thereafter at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield, CT. Contributions may be made to St. Thomas the Apostle School, 25 Dover Road, West Hartford, Ct. 06119 or to a charity of donor’s choice. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. Through the mercy of almighty God, may his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.