Fall River native and former St. Anne’s and St. Luke’s chaplain passes away

Rev. John F. Dias, C.S.C., 93, died Friday, November 20, 2020 at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Indiana, according to Father Willy Raymond.

Father Dias attended Stonehill College, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree. Father Dias was received into the Congregation of Holy Cross on August 15, 1956, made his First Profession of Vows on August 16, 1957 and made his Final Profession on August 16, 1960. From 1959 to 1963, he attended Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C.., and was ordained a priest on June 8, 1963. From 1963 to 1967, Father Dias studied at Fairfield University as well as Southern Connecticut State University.

From 1963 to 1965, Father Dias taught at Notre Dame High School, in Bridgeport, CT. In the fall of 1965, he traveled to Peru for missionary work, and returned in early 1966 to teach at Bennington Catholic High School, Bennington, Vt. From 1967 to 1974, he taught again at Notre Dame High School, and then he was assigned to Our Lady of Grace Parish, Stratford, CT, from 1974 to 1975. From 1975 to 1980, Father Dias taught at Cardinal Mooney High School, Rochester, N.Y., and then he began his chaplain ministry. He was chaplain of Notre Dame Pastoral Institute, Notre Dame, Ind., in 1980; chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, Ind., from 1980 to 1986; Cabrini Medical Center, New York, N.Y., from 1986 to 1993; St. Luke Hospital in New Bedford, from 1993 to 2007; Morton Hospital in Taunton, from 2007 to 2010; and St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River from 2010 to 2014. He moved to Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN, in 2014.

Father Raymond, of Holy Cross Family Ministries, remembered Father Dias fondly.

“He was a good priest of Holy Cross who taught hundreds of children in high schools and served faithfully as a hospital chaplain for most of his life as a priest.”

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Mary on the campus of Stonehill College in North Easton, Mass., on Wednesday, November 25, 2020, with the Funeral Mass following at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at the Holy Cross Community Cemetery at Stonehill College. Kane Funeral Home of Easton, Mass., is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Development, 500 Washington Street, North Easton, MA 02356-1299 or online at donate.holycrossusa.org.