Fr. Jude D Randall, O.S.B

Fr. Jude was born in Downers Grove, Illinois, on October 4, 1933 to the late Joseph and Teresa Randall.  David Randall attended the grade school of St. Joseph Parish and then came to St. Procopius Academy in 1947.  Given the monastic name of Jude, he entered the monastic novitiate following his sophomore year at St. Procopius College and professed his monastic vows on June 27, 1954. After his theological studies at St. Procopius Seminary, Father Jude was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Martin McNamara at St. Raymond Nonnatus Cathedral, Joliet, on May 28, 1960.  He spent some years as teacher and bookstore manager of the Academy, and assistant business manager of the Abbey, serving as the last “farm boss” while that monastic enterprise wound down in the course of the 1960s.   In 1964, Father Jude agreed to the request of Abbot Daniel Kucera that he become the Abbey’s Infirmarian, and for the next twenty-eight years he was most conscientious and solicitous in looking after the needs of ailing confreres.  Father Jude succeeded his novitiate classmate, Father Ronald Rigovsky, as President of Benet Academy in 1992.  In that position, he spearheaded the three capital campaigns that made possible the construction of St. Ronald Gymnasium, St. Daniel Theater, and St. Jude Hall, which modernized the school’s science and cafeteria facilities.  With his faithful sidekick, Benny, a Golden Labrador Retriever, he was a constant presence at Benet events until his retirement in 2012. Up to the year 2012, Fr. Jude relished assisting on weekends at numerous parishes in the Joliet Diocese.  Among them were St. Raphael’s, St. Mary of Gostyn, his home parish of St. Joseph in Downers Grove, and Visitation. Father Jude’s health and mobility declined over the next few years, and in December 2016, he entered St. Patrick’s Residence in Naperville where he died. Fr. Jude is survived by his monastic community, his sister, Sister Dorothy Randall, C.S.J., of LaGrange, IL, and his beloved Miller cousins.   

In memoriam of Fr. Jude, a lighted candle burns in front of a crucifix in the abbey refectory. 

On the evening of Monday, January 11, 2021, at 7:00 p.m., the Abbot and Community will receive his body and process to the Abbey Church where they will keep a vigil.  The monks will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., and proceed to the abbey cemetery on the grounds of Benedictine University. 

Due to the strict protocols to protect the community from COVID-19, the liturgies will be for the monastic community only. 

Please remember Father Jude in your prayers. 

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