Yuma monsignor looks back on nearly 50 years in priesthood

Monsignor Richard O'Keeffe has traveled thousands of miles and had countless experiences during his nearly 50 years in the priesthood of the Catholic Church. He was ordained in June 1959 at St. Patrick's College and Seminary, in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland.

On the evening of Friday the 13th the monsignor, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church since 1981, will be honored at a special dinner at the Yuma Civic Center hosted by the Yuma County Interfaith, an organization he helped found in 1999, as the Yuma County Interfaith Sponsoring Committee.

"Interfaith is nondenominational, faith-based, bringing together leaders from the political field, churches, business and community organizations to help people, no matter who they are, to get in the right direction on concerns of education, immigration, housing, transportation, health care and living wages," O'Keeffe said.

"Families need to know what's going on, and how to become involved. My position is not as a priest or a democrat, but as an individual to help educate people on what they can do to help themselves and others in the community. I do not tell anyone what to do, just help with suggestions," O'Keeffe said.

One of the main thrusts of Interfaith is to educate people in politics - learn to know about politicians and what their platforms are. "We've had open meetings to meet with candidates for office in person."

Born in Kildare, Ireland, O'Keeffe's life in Arizona began in Douglas, just after his ordination, where his natural instincts to help others came to fore by helping families in the mining and mill town to get food and to work with the United Steel Workers Union.

Other church assignments were in San Manuel, then Tucson before being appointed pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church in Yuma in 1981.

In 1969 O'Keeffe was given the honorary title of Monsignor by Pope Paul VI, making him, at 32, the youngest in the United States with the honor. This was the same year he received the Naturalized Citizen Award from the Pima County Bar Association.

O'Keeffe's career has included being director of the Catholic Youth Organization, serving on the Bishop's Task Force for Urban Affairs for the Diocese of Tucson and chairman of the U.S. Commission for Civil Rights for the state of Arizona, and head of the Tucson Human Relations Enforcement Committee.

His extended activities beyond the church have been serving on the state board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers and the state board of Naturopathic Examiners.

O'Keeffe's involvement in plights of farm workers has been "in the background" and as a quiet mediator.

"I like to get people to work together, not against each other," O'Keeffe said. "I don't want anyone to get ulcers!"

Throughout the past years, O'Keeffe tried to visit his homeland each year. His father and mother are no longer living. He has a retired brother in Ireland, and two nieces and a nephew who have visited him in Yuma.

About his upcoming golden anniversary in 2009, the monsignor said there will be a celebration here and one in Ireland.

Asked if he'll be retiring, Monsignor O'Keeffe responded, "I don't know. What would I do? You can only play golf so many hours a day, and drink so many cups of coffee."

The "political priest" who has also been dubbed the "people's priest" admitted he still has ideas on helping others.

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Pam M. Smith can be reached at psmith@yumasun.com or 539-6856.

Interfaith honors Monsignor O'Keeffe

Monsignor Richard W. O'Keeffe will be guest of honor Friday with an Interfaith service at 5:30 p.m. on the terrace of the Yuma Civic Center, 1440 Desert Hills Drive.

O'Keeffe is beginning his 50th year as a Roman Catholic priest and has been pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church in Yuma for 37 years.

Among his many contributions to the community are founding the Yuma Catholic High School and the Yuma County Interfaith that began as the Yuma County Interfaith Sponsoring Committee, a nonpolitical and nondenominational organization with a goal of helping people become involved.

Arizona's Gov. Janet Napolitano will be distinguished guest for the reception and dinner, held in the ballroom at 6:30 p.m.

The event is open to the public, but reservations are required. Seats are $30 per person. Call 376-6711 for space availability.