Fr. John Allan Loftus, SJ, passed away peacefully at Campion Health Care Center in Weston, Mass., on Mon., Oct. 24, 2022, following a period of declining health. He was 75.
 
Many know Fr. John Allan from his time at St. Jerome’s College as a professor of psychology from 1995 to 1998. . When JA taught psychology here, his most popular classes were on human sexuality. The undergrads were fascinated to learn how a Catholic priest knew so much about the subject!
 
However, his work as a psychologist committed to the personal well-being of priests and religious is well known in the Archdiocese of Boston with the Clergy Trust. Upon returning to the Boston area in 2004, Fr. Loftus renewed his private psychotherapy practice with clergy and assisted the Archdiocese of Boston through his support of the Clergy Trust. He became the director of the Jesuit Urban Center in the South End in 2004 while continuing his private practice. After the Urban Center closed in 2008, he joined the staff of St Ignatius Parish in Chestnut Hill as a part-time associate pastor. He was a beloved member of the St. Ignatius community, especially for his brilliant homilies and his celebration of the family Mass in which the characters of the Peanuts comic strip were featured players (He was known as “Fr. Snoopy.”).  
 
JA’s advice to us? Just be yourself. Be who you are! One of his former students from Regis College in Toronto, Brad Colby remembered JA:

“JA’s whole life was a testament to his struggle to live authentically and loyally, in service to his community, his vocation, his truth. JA was an idealist who nonetheless saw the flawed humanity within himself and all around. His joy was hard won and irrepressible. JA was a faithful friend and I will miss our chats, his annual birthday calls, and the warm embrace of his larger-than-life heart.”

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