Rev. Joseph H. Tate, C.S.C.
March 10, 1928 – August 26, 2022
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Rev. Joseph Hugh Tate, C.S.C., 94, died on August 26, 2022, at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind.
Fr. Tate was born the second oldest of the nine children of James J. and Mary (Cunningham) Tate on March 10, 1928, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Fr. Tate was paralyzed with polio at the age of three, in 1931, along with his brother, Jim, and his sister, Margaret. He graduated from James Madison High School, Brooklyn, in 1946, and entered the Congregation of Holy Cross on August 15, 1947. He professed First Vows on August 16, 1948, and made Final Vows as a brother in the Eastern Province of Holy Cross on August 16, 1951. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1957, and a master of arts degree in teaching from St. Michael’s College in Winooski, Vt., in 1971.
While a brother, Fr. Tate served at Notre Dame High School, West Haven, Conn. (1950-1951); St. Francis Assisi, Brooklyn (1951-1952); Vincentian Institute, Albany, N.Y. (1952-1954 and 1954-1959); Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick, R.I. (1959-1961); Holy Cross High School, Flushing, N.Y. (1961-1966 and 1977-1978); Pius XII Boys Home, Chester, N.Y. (1966-1977); and as director of religious education at West Point, N.Y. (1972-1975). Fr. Tate took a leave of absence from 1978-1979 to study for the priesthood, and then transferred to the Eastern Province of Priests in 1979. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 1981.
After ordination, Fr. Tate assisted in five parishes in the Bethel, Vt., area from 1981-1985 and three from 1985-1988, with St. Anne’s in Middletown Springs, Vt. being his home base. Fr. Tate then earned his M.Div. from the University of St. Michael in Toronto, Ont. in 1983. In 1988, Fr. Tate resided at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind., and in 1989, was chaplain at St. Joseph Farm, Granger, Ind. From 1991 to 1999, Fr. Tate served at Our Lady of Fatima, Wilmington, Vt., and from 1999-2006, served again in Vermont parishes – St. Joachim Church (Readsboro) and St. Joseph Bosco Chapel (Stamford). From 2007-2010, Fr. Tate was part of the Holy Cross Community at North Dartmouth, Mass. In 2010, Fr. Tate moved to Holy Cross House in Notre Dame, Ind.
He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Mary Tate. He is survived by his brother, Hugh Tate.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. EDT at the St. Joseph Center in Valatie, N.Y., on September 9, 2022, with the Funeral Mass following at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at the Holy Cross Community Cemetery. Bond Funeral Home of Valatie, N.Y., 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 Advancement, 500 Washington Street, North Easton, MA 02356-1299 or online at donate.holycrossusa.org.
