John Finley Obituary, Cause Of Death – Before dying away on March 7, 2023, at Iberia Medical Center, Reverend Father John Thomas Finley was a retired priest who had served the Diocese of Lafayette for 47 years. He had served in that capacity until the time of his passing. In the days leading up to his passing, he had finally found the serenity he had been seeking. He was 75 years old at that point in time.
At Opelousas, on the 14th of December in 1947, Father Finley made his entrance into the world. He began his formation as a priest at Immaculata Minor Seminary in Lafayette, Louisiana. After that, he continued his education at Saint Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. Finally, he received his degree from the University of Leuven in Belgium. He received his secondary education at Catholic High School in New Iberia.
During the course of his schooling, he gave serious thought to entering a monastic community. Yet, in the end, he came to the realization that God was calling him to a life of ministry within the Diocese of Lafayette. In Belgium, he was first granted the ordination to the diaconate, and then on March 14, 1975, he was awarded the ordination to the sacred priesthood at Our Lady of Fatima in Lafayette.
Both of these ordinations took place at the same time. As a priest, he was responsible for ministering to the congregation of God by using his acute intellect, modest manner, and intense prayer to address the needs of the congregation. Over the years, he shared his knowledge of scripture with individuals who were studying for ordination to the diaconate, as well as his enthusiasm for the Bible with the listeners of the Tell the People broadcast.
In addition, he passed on his love for the Bible to those who followed the program. In addition to being an avid reader, he received considerable training as a classical pianist and violinist. He also played both instruments. Throughout the course of his priestly duties, he was responsible for ministering at the Saint Bernard Church in Breaux Bridge, the Saint Anne Church on Cow Island, and the Our Lady of the Nativity Church in New Iberia.
In addition to this, the diocesan obligations such as working with vocations and being appointed to the position of judge for the Lafayette Tribunal were entrusted to him. He fought debilitating ailments for thirty-five years, but he never gave up the fight thanks to the strength of his religion, the courage he displayed, and the trademark dry humor he possessed.
As he gained more expertise, people from all walks of life, including members of the church, began to seek his counsel on issues pertaining to the spiritual world. As his health rendered it impossible for him to minister in a parish environment, he tenderly ministered to the residents of the Bethany Nursing Home in Lafayette until it was time for him to retire. During that time, he served as a minister until it was time for him to retire.
