In Memoriam ~ Fr. Francis Prokes ’40

Fr. Francis A. Prokes ’40

Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. Francis A. Prokes, SJ, who was called to eternal life on January 22, 2019. Frank died at St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He was ninety-five years old, a Jesuit for seventy years, and a priest for sixty-one years.

Born in Jackson, Minnesota on February 3, 1923, Frank attended grade school and high school in Jackson and St. John’s Prep in Collegeville, Minnesota. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1948, he entered the Society at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Missouri on August 15, 1948. Frank had the usual Jesuit course of studies at Saint Stanislaus Seminary, Saint Louis University, and St. Mary’s College. He was ordained on June 12, 1957, made tertianship in Decatur, Illinois 1958-1959, and pronounced his final vows on August 15, 1960.

Before entering the Society, Frank earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. In the Society, Frank earned a licentiate in sacred theology from Saint Louis University (1959). He then earned a master’s degree (1962) and a doctorate (1964) in architecture from Princeton University.

During regency, Frank taught at Red Cloud Indian School (1953-1954). After his ordination, Frank was a minister at Creighton University (1959-1960) and an associate pastor at the Church of the Gesu in Milwaukee (1960-1961). After earning his doctorate, Frank moved to Detroit where he taught architecture at the University of Detroit (1965-1966) and was involved in urban renewal in the city (1966-1968).

In 1968, Frank moved to the Regina Laudis Monastery in Bethlehem, Connecticut, where he began many years of ministry as an architectural consultant in the renewal of religious communities in accordance with Vatican II. In 1996 he was assigned to the Creighton University Jesuit Community, a base from which he carried on his pastoral ministry. For some years before failing health led to his moving to the St. Camillus Jesuit Community in 2016, Frank was in residence with Promisek, a religious community near Bridgewater, Connecticut, for which he was providing pastoral service.

Frank was a gifted Jesuit, a leader in his field. He is perhaps less well known to many Jesuits because he worked for so many years with other religious congregations. He will, however, be remembered by the many, many people he helped over the years.

VISITATION

Monday, January 28, 2019
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Madonna della Strada Chapel
St. Camillus Jesuit Community
10201 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Wauwatosa, WI

FUNERAL MASS

Monday, January 28, 2019
7:00 p.m.
Madonna della Strada Chapel
St. Camillus Jesuit Community