Benedictine Father Donald Francis Talafous, 99, died April 11 in the St. John’s Abbey Health Center, Collegeville. The monastic community along with his family and friends will receive the body at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, and celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, in Saint John’s Abbey and University Church, with interment in the abbey cemetery. The service will be live-streamed at (https://www.youtube.com/saintjohnsabbey).
The oldest of four children of Frank and Camilla (O’Brien) Talafous of Duluth, Minnesota, he was born on Jan. 4, 1926. He attended Ely Elementary School and then enrolled at Duluth Denfeld High School, graduating in 1943.
Father Talafous enrolled in Saint John’s University and, in July 1946, entered the novitiate at Saint John’s Abbey. The following July 11 he made his simple vows and continued his undergraduate studies, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1948. He pursued priesthood studies at Saint John’s Seminary and was ordained June 7, 1952.
Early assignments included serving as an instructor in Latin and theology, missioner at St. Augustine’s Monastery, Nassau, Bahamas, and associate pastor at St. Anselm Parish, Bronx, New York. He returned to Saint John’s in 1956 as university chaplain and taught theology. He earned a master’s degree in theology at Catholic University of America in 1963. In 1972 he earned a doctorate in systematic theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.
He taught theology for 37 years, was a faculty resident for 32 years, and served as university chaplain for 23 years. He was awarded the Father Walter Reger Distinguished Alumnus Award from Saint John’s University in 1989 and the President’s Medal in 2015. He also had a presence on the Internet with his daily “Fr. Don’s Daily Reflection.”
Father Talafous’ books include “Readings in Science and Spirit,” “The Risk in Believing,” “A Word for the Day: Reflections,” “Homilies for Weekdays,” and “Musings: a Benedictine on Christian Life.”
He is survived a sister, Diane Seaman, Duluth, and by the community of Saint John’s Abbey.