Father Patrick Travers, a priest of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, was called home to God June 1. Fr. Travers had most recently served as Pastor of Holy Innocents Parish in Victorville from 2011-19. He was also leader in Catholic education, serving as longtime Principal at Damien High School in Pomona.
During his years at Damien and afterward he took groups of students to Tijuana to build over 110 houses, nine churches, and two community centers. Five times a year his groups would also bring food and other necessities to Mexico.
The youngest of 10 children, Fr. Travers was born in Ballon, County Carlow, Ireland on June 13, 1937. He attended local elementary and secondary schools before entering the Sacred Hearts Novitiate in Cootehill County Cavan, Ireland, where he professed vows on August 15, 1956. He then went to Queen of Peace Seminary in Jaffrey Center, New Hampshire. He was ordained a priest on June 24, 1962 and was assigned to teach at Damien High School.
Fr. Travers spent 49 years at Damien. During most of those years, he taught Geometry to thousands of students, and served as the Athletic Director, the Dean of Discipline and the Dean of Studies. He was Principal of Damien High School from 1980 to 2010.
After Fr. Travers left Damien as President in 2011, he became the Pastor of Holy Innocents Parish.
In 2020, he contracted a severe case of COVID before the development of vaccines. He returned to the Damien Residence in very poor health. With strength of will and fierce determination, he worked tirelessly to regain his health so he could continue to serve the people of God.
In the last few days of his life, as students and friends stopped by to see him, they could see he was no longer able to build, bless, or bandage. It was time for him to let go and time for others to pick up and continue work in his name, and in the names of Jesus and St. Damien — the journey of compassionate responses to the needs of the poor, the hungry, and the homeless.
Written by, Fr. Richard Danyluk, Provincial, SS.CC.; Pastor, Holy Name of Mary Church