Father John P. Finnegan, 90, died June 16. He was pastor emeritus of St. Mary of Vernon Parish, Indian Creek.

Born in Chicago, Father Finnegan attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1954. He also earned postgraduate degrees at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, Loyola University Chicago and the University of Chicago.

Father Finnegan’s younger brother, Father William J. Finnegan, a retired priest and former pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish in Orland Park, remembered that his older brother saw himself as a parish priest from the very beginning and he was able to fulfill his dream for two years by working with the people of Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Hometown, a few months after ordination to priesthood. Father John Finnegan was then asked to become a full-time teacher at Quigley Preparatory Seminary and later at St. Mary of the Lake Junior College in Niles.

In 1978, Father Finnegan became founding pastor of St. Mary of Vernon Parish, where he served until retirement. His brother added that “even after retirement he continued to offer liturgies there (St. Mary of Vernon Parish) and also always considered himself one of their family.”