Rev. Joseph H. Sum, CSV, died on Sunday, July 24, 1988 in San Diego, CA. Fr. Sum died after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was sixty-seven years old and was serving as Associate Pastor at St. Agnes Church in San Diego.
Born on October 28, 1920, the son of John and Anna Sum, Fr. Joe grew up in a large family of brothers and sisters. Fr. Joe joined the Viatorians in 1940 and pronounced his first vows on August 15, 1941. After attending the Scholasticate in Davenport, IA and earning his B.A. degree from St. Ambrose, he pronounced his final vows in August of 1944. He attended Catholic University and St. Thomas Seminary in Denver for theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood on May 16, 1948.
Fr. Joe’s early assignments involved him in the educational apostolate of the Province. He taught at Stepinac High School in NY followed by assignments at Spalding Institute, Cathedral Boys’ High School, Marion High School, Alleman High School and St. Viator High School. Also from 1956 – 1959, Fr. Joe served as the Director of the Seminary Aid Association. In 1969 Joe started a new chapter in his ministry. This year marked his first service in parochial ministry which began at St. Patricia Parish in Hickory Hills, IL. Subsequent assignments for Fr. Joe included St. Joan of Arc Church in Las Vegas and a number of parishes in the Diocese of San Diego. Joe came to San Diego in 1974 and served at St. Joseph Cathedral for the next twelve years until the time of his death when he was an Associate Pastor at St. Agnes Parish in San Diego.
Fr. Joe was survived by his sister, Mrs. Margaret Hetfeld and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation and a Funeral Mass were held in San Diego on July 25 – 26, 1988. Visitation was held at the Province Center in Arlington Heights, IL on Wednesday, July 27, 1988 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass was celebrated at the Province Center on Thursday, July 28, 1988 at 10:00 a.m. Burial was at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
Please include Joe in your prayers and gather together in local communities to remember him at Eucharist.
Taken from letter to the Viatorian Community on July 25, 1988 from the Assistant Provincial, Rev. Robert M. Egan, CSV