Lawrence J. Madden, SJ
May 18, 1933–May 30, 2011
Father Lawrence Joseph Madden, SJ, 78, died on May 30, 2011 at Georgetown Univesity, Washington, DC. He was a Jesuit for 59 years and a priest for 46 years.Lawrence was the son of Lawrence J. Madden and Maria Agnes Scally, born on May 18, 1933 in Philadelphia, PA. Following graduation from Saint Joseph's Preparatory School, Philadelphia, he entered the Society of Jesus on July 30, 1951 at the Novitiate of Saint Isaac Jogues, Wernersville, PA., where he pronounced his First Vows on July 31, 1953. After pursuing Juniorate (College) Studies in the Humanities at Wernersville from 1953 to 1955, Lawrence studied Philosophy and English from 1955 to 1958 at Loyola Seminary (Fordham University), Shrub Oak, NY from which he received a B.A. degree in 1957 and a M.S. degree in 1959.
From 1958 to 1961, Lawrence, a Jesuit Scholastic, taught English, Mathematics and Religion at Scranton Preparatory School, Scranton, PA., before being sent to study Theology from 1961 to 1965 at Woodstock College in Maryland, where he was ordained to the priesthood by Lawrence Cardinal Shehan, Archbishop of Baltimore, on June 14, 1964. Lawrence completed his Tertianship at St. Robert's Hall, Pomfret, CT, from 1965 to 1966 and made his Final Profession in the Society of Jesus at Georgetown University, Washington, DC on November 6, 1971.
Following graduate studies at the Liturgical Institute of the Theological Faculty at the University of Trier, Germany from 1966 to 1968, where he received the S.T.D. degree in 1971, Lawrence then served as Professor of Pastoral Theology (1968-1971) and Superior of the Jesuit Community (1969-1971) at Woodstock College in Maryland and Professor of Pastoral Theology (1970-1971) at Woodstock College in New York.
In 1971, Lawrence was sent to Washington, DC where he was to remain for the next forty years, engaged in various ministries in the area. From 1971 to 1981, he held the offices of Director of Campus Ministries and Professor of Pastoral Theology at Georgetown University as well as Vice-Superior at Campion House (1972-1981). From 1981 to 2000, residing at Holy Trinity Rectory, he served as Director of the Georgetown Center for Liturgy, Spirituality and the Arts, Parochial Vicar (1981-1993) and Pastor and Superior of the Holy Trinity Jesuit Community of Holy Trinity Church (1993-2000).
After a Sabbatical at Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, MA. from 2000 to 2001, Lawrence returned to Washington, DC as the Director of the Georgetown Center for Liturgy from 2001 to 2011 at Georgetown University, where he also held assignments during those years as Professor of Theology (2003-2004), Professorial Lecturer in Theology (2004-2011), and Editorial Director of EnVisionChurch, a website devoted to liturgy, spirituality and the arts (2009-2011) until his death.
The American Institute of Architects’ Interfaith Forum on Religion Art & Architecture (IFRAA) presented the Elbert M. Conover Award to Lawrence J. Madden, SJ, on May 12, 2011 at the AIA’s National Convention in New Orleans. The award is given on occasion to non-architects for their contributions to religious art and architecture.
Lawrence served as an advisor to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy and on the governing committee of the North American Academy of Liturgy. An author and frequent lecturer, he edited The Awakening Church: the State of Liturgy in the U.S. Twenty-five Years after the Second Vatican Council’s Reforms, published in 1991. He has recently co-authored Simply Fred, A Tribute to Frederick R. McManus, priest, peritus, and promoter of liturgical renewal: 1950 to 2005. The book is available from lulu.com/spotlight/jackshea .
Tribute prepared by The Georgetown Center for Liturgy.