Fr. Kevin Edmund Carr, OP

Twins, Edmund and Mary, were born to George and Theresa Carr on March 21, 1927, in Central Falls, Rhode Island.  In a biographical letter sent to the Provincial shortly before his death, Fr. Carr described his folks as "poor but sufficient parents."  Six days after his birth, Edmund was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Central Falls.   He attended St. Edward's School and St. Raphael Academy in nearby Pawtucket.  During his high school days, he was active in amateur theater, a part of his life, which remained evident in his talent for song, storytelling, and mimicry.   Pre-novitiate education concluded with a year of study at St. Mary's College in St. Mary, Kentucky.  On August 4, 1946, at St. Rose Priory in Kentucky, Dominican life began as Edmund received the habit of the Order and the religious name of Kevin (by which most of us knew him).  Simple profession followed on August 5, 1947.  The presiding prelate for both ceremonies was the famous Novitiate figure of the Eastern Province, Fr. L. F. Johannsen, whom many of us came to know through Kevin's artful imitations.  Kevin then moved to St. Joseph's Priory, Somerset, Ohio, for two years of philosophical studies, and subsequently to Immaculate Conception Priory in Washington, D.C., for theology.

Through Providence College, he received a B.A. in Philosophy in 1950, and, on August 5th of that year, made solemn profession.  Following the course of studies, he was ordained to the priesthood at St. Dominic's Church in Washington, D.C., on June 4, 1953, by the Most Rev. John McNamara, D.D.  One year later, he completed his formal studies with the degrees of Licentiate and Lectorate in Theology.   Kevin spent the summer of 1954 assigned to "Christ the King Motor Chapel," and traveled through the Carolinas and Georgia to bring the Church to predominately rural areas.  He often spoke of his experiences there and seemed to find the assignment exciting.

In September of 1954, he was assigned by his Provincial, Fr. Terence McDermott, at the time Vicar of the Order, to the Province of the Holy Name.  Kevin did not realize, as he traveled for the first time to the West Coast, that he would spend the rest of his life here.  After his arrival, Kevin soon was involved in several teaching roles.  He taught philosophy classes and his favorite course on "scientific questions" at St. Albert's College.  In that first year, he also teamed with the late Fr. Paul Starrs in offering a program of "Theology for the Laity," which was described as innovative for its day.  This popular program was held in Oakland, Berkeley, Belmont, and Sacramento until well into the 1960s.  From 1955-65, he also taught at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, and, from 1965-70, at the College of the Holy Names in Oakland, serving the latter also as college chaplain.  As if these activities were not enough, he was Magister Spiritus to several classes of student priests.

From 1970 until his death, Kevin served in parish ministry: 1970-80 at Holy Rosary Church, Antioch; 1980-81 at St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral, Reno; 1981-86 at St. Dominic's Church, Benicia, in all of which places he was known as a caring and available priest.  A few months before his death, he requested to return to Antioch.  It was on June 29, 1978, almost 24 years after his arrival, that Kevin transfiliated from St. Joseph's Province to the Province of the Holy Name.

Kevin developed one other ministry that became very important to him in his later years.  In about 1969, he became active in Alcoholics Anonymous, a program which not only provided a framework to solve his own problems, but, because of the kind of Dominican he was, brought about contact with a whole new circle of acquaintances and friends who turned to him for help.  He also served on the Board of Directors for AA's halfway house in Clayton.

Diagnosed in May of 1986 as having terminal cancer, Fr. Kevin Carr's condition deteriorated rapidly, and he died in the early morning of July 28, 1986.  During his last weeks, he was filled with a deep spirit of peace and acceptance.  Rosary and Mass of the Resurrection were held at Holy Rosary Church, Antioch, in the presence of Bishop John S. Cummins of the Oakland Diocese and an overflowing crowd of priests, religious and lay people.  Burial was on July 31 at St. Dominic's Cemetery, Benicia.  A final testimony to his Dominican ministry was the number and variety of mourners who crowded all the funeral services.

--Fr. Thomas P. Raftery

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