James T. BANAS

1 APR 1930 - 25 MAY 2017

• BIRTH: 1 APR 1930, Chicago, Cook , IL
• DEATH: 25 MAY 2017, Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN

INDEX

[N16815] Rev. James T. Banas, C.S.C.
April 1, 1930 - May 25, 2017
NOTRE DAME - Rev. James T. Banas, C.S.C., 87, died at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN on Thursday, May 25, 2017. Fr. Banas was born to Stanley and Julia (Purchla) Banas in Chicago, Illinois on April 1, 1930. He attended St. Helen and St. James grade schools before taking his high school classes under the direction of the Holy Cross Brothers at Holy Trinity High School also in Chicago. Upon graduating from Holy Trinity, he spent a year at Loyola University before following his older brother, Fr. Len Banas, C.S.C., to Holy Cross. After entering the Old College candidate program at Notre Dame in September of 1948, he began his novitiate year on Miami Road the next August. He professed first vows August 16, 1950. Fr. Banas returned to Notre Dame and Moreau Seminary for his college work and graduated in June of 1953. Later that summer, he entered Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C. for the study of theology. Two years later, he moved down the road to the Foreign Mission Seminary to prepare for service in Bangladesh. Fr. Jim was ordained at Notre Dame on June 5, 1957, by Bishop Leo Pursley. His first two years of priesthood were spent assisting at Notre Dame while doing graduate work in history. After earning a master's degree in that area in 1959 he began what was to be his life's work at Notre Dame College in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The first assignment, to teach English (and occasionally history) remained Fr. Banas' life-long apostolate. Father James Banas' missionary years bore much fruit, especially for the poor of Dhaka and the students of Notre Dame College. His talents were many and his heart was ever-open and filled with Christ-like love for all who approached him. Fr. Banas moved to Moreau Seminary at Notre Dame in 2012 and to Holy Cross House in 2014. Preceding him in death are his parents, Stanley and Julia Banas, and his brothers, Edward, Chester and Valerian Banas. He is survived by his brother, Rev. Leonard Banas, C.S.C. of Notre Dame, IN, and sisters, Ann Parme of La Jolla, CA, and Elizabeth Cella of Arlington Heights, IL. Visitation will be from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, IN, where there will be a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in the community cemetery at Notre Dame. Kaniewski Funeral Home, South Bend, is in charge of the arrangements. Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross may be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765 or online at donate.holycrossusa.org. Published in South Bend Tribune from May 28 to May 29, 2017