Fr. John J. Paret, S.J., 87, former director of the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, Auriesville, N.Y., and who for the last 16 years and presently vice postulator for Kateri's Cause, passed away Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at the Jesuit Infirmary in Bronx, N.Y. Born on August 12, 1919 in Flushing, Queens, N.Y., he was the son of the late John Julian and Sarah Elizabeth McGrath Paret. Fr. Paret entered the Society of Jesus on August 14, 1940 and was ordained on June 17, 1951. In his early years as a priest, Fr. Paret served at McQuaid High School in Rochester, N.Y. He had mentioned he remembered that time as one of the happiest in his life. In fact, many people said Jake was always a teacher, as well as a fine pastor and shepherd of souls. Before coming to Auriesville, Fr. Paret served in Puerto Rico and then in the New York Metropolitan area for 25 years. His services in those places included Nativity Parish on the Lower East Side of Manhattan; also the Parish of St. Ignatius in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, where almost all of the parishioners were Central American immigrants. Fr. Paret is survived by one brother, William (Monica) Paret of Ridge, Long Island, N.Y. and a sister, Mary Elizabeth Paret of Woodhaven, Queens, N.Y. Nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. The public is invited to pay their respects at the Coliseum at the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs at Auriesville on Friday afternoon, September 1, 2006 from 1:30 to 3:45 and where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 4:00 p.m. Interment will be in the Jesuit Cemetery, Auriesville Shrine. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Fr. Paret's name may be made to the Kateri League or to the Shrine, 136 Shrine Road, Auriesville, NY 12068. Arrangements are by the Riley Mortuary, Inc., 110 Division Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010.

Published in Albany Times Union on Aug. 31, 2006