Rev. Edward “Ned” Coughlin, S.J. ’62, the 49th Headmaster of Xavier (1984-1986), and pastor of the Church of St. Francis Xavier (1998-2006), died on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at St. Luke’s Hospital, Newburgh, NY after a brief illness.

Fr. Coughlin was born on September 27, 1944, and entered the Society of Jesus at St. Andrew-on-Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY, on August 14, 1962. Fr. Coughlin served his regency at St. Peter’s Prep where he returned as a young priest to teach religion, Latin and Greek. He served as chaplain at St. Peter’s where he developed the Emmaus retreat program leading the first such retreat in the winter of 1977. For the next seven years, working closely with Helen and Lou Argyelan , Fr. John Mullin, S.J., and Br. Tom Garvey, S.J., brother of former Xavier faculty member +Fr. John Garvey, S.J., Fr. Coughlin refined the Emmaus program, directed dozens of retreats and trained scores of retreat leaders. The Emmaus program, based on themes of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, ushered in a new era of high school retreats and quickly spread to Jesuit high schools and colleges across the country. Fr. Coughlin served as assistant principal for curriculum and faculty development at St. Peter’s before returning to Xavier as headmaster from 1984-1986.

Following his work at Xavier, Fr. Coughlin returned to the work of retreats and spiritual direction guiding countless people to a deeper relationship with a loving God intimately connected with his creation. At LeMoyne College, Linwood Spiritual Center and most recently as superior of Jouges Retreat House, Fr. Coughlin directed men and women in the Spiritual Exercises and other programs with care and insight fostering their growth and development. Over the years he collaborated closely with the Society of St. Ursula and other religious, priests and lay people. From 1998 through 2006, he served as pastor of the parish of St. Francis Xavier. Arriving at the parish during difficult days, Ned was a healing presence working closely with the parish council and all parishioners to rebuild a strong, vibrant, welcoming and inclusive Catholic faith community. Under his leadership, the parish embarked on the first phase of a renovation of its historic church restoring the roof and the exterior of the church.

The seeds of Fr. Coughlin’s Jesuit vocation were planted during his days as a young cadet at Xavier. At his first mass at Xavier after being named to the parish staff, Ned spoke movingly about praying as a student in front of the large crucifix that the stood at the front of the Church for so many years, and of God’s powerful response to those prayers. Through many years and in many places, Fr. Ned Coughlin was a living witness to God’s love and the power of prayer.

In reflecting on Fr. Coughlin, Xavier’s 33rd president, Mr. Jack Raslowsky noted, “I first met Ned as a student at St. Peter’s Prep and was graced to count him as a friend through the years. He had a wonderful ability to connect with students. His was a keen mind. He was great cook. He was a generous servant of God… He was an outstanding and courageous preacher. He gave a homily in November of 1980 in which he spoke of everything as gift; I remember it to this day. In 1999, he preached at Xavier parish on the Feast of the Holy Family about what really makes a family. It was bold, creative, insightful and loving… Ned Coughlin was a man who lived his Jesuit life and his priesthood in a way that made all at Xavier proud.”

Xavier joins in prayers of thanksgiving for the life Fr. Edward Coughlin, S.J. May the Angels lead him into paradise; may the martyrs greet him and lead him into the holy city, Jerusalem. May the choir of Angels greet him and like Lazarus, who once was a poor man, may he have eternal rest.

Wake:
Friday, June 27, 2014
3:00-5:00 & 7:00-9:00 PM
Xavier High School Chapel
30 West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011

Mass of Christian Burial:
Saturday, June 28, 2014 11:30 AM
Church of St. Francis Xavier
West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
(next to Xavier High School)