Passing of Fr. Arthur Espelage, OFM

By Fr. Dan Anderson, OFM, Secretary of the Province, Franciscan Friars

Fr. Arthur John Espelage, OFM, embraced Sister death late Friday night, December 9, 2022, at Riverside Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where he was receiving Hospice care during his final battle with renal failure. Art was 78 years.

Born on August 13, 1944, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Art was one of six children of Arthur Sr. and Antoinette (Green) Espelage. He attended St. Bonaventure Elementary School in Cincinnati. With strong Franciscan connections through his parish and through his uncles (Sylvester Espelage, OFM, Bishop of Wuchang, China, and Bernard Espelage, OFM, Bishop of Gallup, New Mexico), Art attended St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati before entering the Franciscan novitiate on August 15, 1962, receiving the religious name “Nathaniel,” later returning to his baptismal name.

After professing his first vows in 1963, he entered Duns Scotus College in Southfield, Michigan, where he made his solemn vows on August 16, 1966. Fr. Art was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, 1971, at St. Leonard College in Centerville, Ohio.

His first assignment was to St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as part of the Christian Development Program. In 1977, Fr. Art entered Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he earned a JCB and Licentiate in Canon Law. He returned to St. Leonard College as Professor of Canon Law and Director of Field Education. Much to Fr. Art’s disappointment, St. Leonard College closed in 1981. Fr. Art was named Associate Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Centerville, Ohio. He also served the Archdiocese of Cincinnati as Defender of the Bond, Associate Tribunal Judge and Tribunal Judge until 1983 when he moved to Santa Fe where he served in the Archdiocesan Tribunal and as Judicial Vicar. In 1987, Fr. Art returned to Catholic University of America as a doctoral student earning his JCD in Canon Law before being named a Professor of Canon Law at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.

Fr. Art ministered as a canonist in the Diocese of Columbus (1994-1997) and the Diocese of Palm Beach (1998-1999). Then he was named Executive Coordinator for the Canon Law Society of America, serving until 2008 when he became Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Venice, Florida. He also served the Order as General Visitor for the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

After a sabbatical year of prayer and reflection, Art taught for a year at St. Meinrad School of Theology before beginning his final ministry as Canonist and Adjutant Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Tucson in 2017.

"True to his Franciscan vocation and priesthood, Fr. Art was profoundly dedicated to serving the poor and those in challenging circumstances," said Bishop Edward Weisenburger from the Diocese of Tucson. "In his tribunal work alone, I am humbled to consider the number of those who had experienced the pain of divorce but who were able to join our Catholic Church or continue their Sacramental practice because of his ministry. I kindly ask that you keep Fr. Art in prayer, along with his family and brother Franciscans."

My own experience of Art was that he loved Canon Law, not as an end in itself but as a tool of ministry. Several years ago I received a phone call from a former friar who had left the Order under irregular circumstances and married. After nearly fifty years of marriage, he and his wife were in their late 80’s and wanted to face death at peace with the Church. I suggested he speak with Art who worked with him bringing not just his professional knowledge but tremendous compassion. Not too much later the man and his wife died in peace. Canon 1752 (the final canon) reads: “… the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before one’s eyes.” Art was truly a minister of that law. I’m sure many of us could tell similar stories about Art’s compassion. He brought that understanding of the law in his advice to the last several Provincial Ministers, the friars of the province, and the many he served.

Fr. Art was preceded in death by his parents and his stillborn sister Angela. He is survived by his sisters Theresa (James) Michael, Diane Daria, and Anne (Scott) Martin and his brother Joseph (Jennifer) Espelage as well as nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by friar classmates Gabriel Balassone, Marcel Groth, Carl Langenderfer and Robert Seay and by his dear friend Leslie Young.

Personal expressions of sympathy to the family may be sent to Art’s sister: Diane Daria, 3600 Neiheisel Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45248

Fr. Art requested that his body be cremated. Friars, family and friends will receive Art’s remains at St. Anthony Friary & Shrine in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Monday, January 16, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial follows at 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place in the friars’ plot at St. Mary Cemetery following a luncheon reception in Shrine Hall at St. Anthony Friary.

I’ll give Art the final word; he’d like that. Among his wishes was that I pass on this final message to the friars, his family and friends:

"I thank God and you for the love which you have shown to me. My family has always been very close to me; you have been in my daily prayers. I shall miss the presence of visiting and talking with you, but I shall do what I can to ask God's blessings on you. For the Friars of the province, I am privileged to have walked among you. Many who have gone before me were an inspiration to me, and my few achievements in this life reflect their greatness. I thank you, brothers, for your support and encouragement to live the Rule and Life of the Friars Minor. My journey as a man of faith has been to try to walk like Francis of Assisi in the vestigia Christi. That my footsteps do not correspond is painfully aware to me. Forgive me my sins against you; I have been weak at times. Please pray for me. For those who may feel that they have harmed me, I have tried always to forgive, but I am not good with words or actions. If I have left something undone, know that I do forgive.

"Finally, should the times and conditions allow, I would ask that after the funeral you have the opportunity to eat a meal and visit some before you go home.

"Pax et bonum."