Obituaries

John Michael Payne, OCD

Photo of John Michael Payne, OCD
Father John Michael Payne of Little Rock, was born on August 11, 1941. His name was Patrick John Payne. In the Discalced Carmelite order he was known as John Michael of the Child Jesus. He was born in San Francisco, California, but became a Texan when Mr. Morgan, his pappy, and Georgina Mahoney Payne, his mother, moved to Mount Pleasant, Texas. He finished his high school in Mount Pleasant and entered Saint Joseph Seminary at Saint Benedict Abbey in Covington, Louisiana. In 1963, he graduated from St. Joseph's Seminary and joined the Discalced Carmelite Friars. He was professed as a Discalced Carmelite on July 20, 1964 at Marylake in Little Rock, Arkansas. He went on to study philosophy in Santa Clara. Finishing Philosophy in 1966, he continued his studies of Theology in Washington, D.C. at Catholic University. He was ordained on June 13, 1970. Throughout his years an ordained friar in the Province of St. Therese, Father John Michael served the province in many capacities. He served in the cathedral parish in Dallas, Texas, and served as Superior of Houston, Texas in the mid-1970's. He was given the task of coordinating the withdrawal of the friars from our foundation in Bellaire, within the broad Houston metropolis. (The Province was in the process of consolidating its sparse personnel). Then he went on to serve in our house of prayer in Dallas. He was assigned to the house and parish in San Antonio, Texas. He worked for many years as Spiritual Director of the Secular Order of our Province of St. Therese. Several terms he served as Superior in our Novitiate House in Little Rock, Arkansas; and this is where he died on the afternoon of the Feast of the Epiphany, January 8, 2017. A Rosary Service will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, January 15th at Monastery of Marylake, 5151 Marylake Drive, Little Rock 72206. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday at Marylake and burial will follow in Marylake Cemetery. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.

Published January 14, 2017

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