In Memoriam

Conner, Herbert “Bert” K. SJ

posted by: tricia on Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Father Herbert K. (“Bert”) Conner, S.J., departed this life on August 30, 2008 at St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Simpsonville, South Carolina, where he had served as founding pastor since 1991.  

Born in Augusta, GA, on October 30, 1930, Bert attended Boys’ Catholic High in Augusta, graduating in 1948; on July 30 of that year, he entered the Society of Jesus at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, LA. After novitiate and juniorate, he did his philosophy studies at Spring Hill and then taught at Jesuit High School in Tampa and Colegio San Ignacio in Puerto Rico for his regency.  After theology studies at St. Mary’s in Kansas, Bert was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 1961.  

Bert served in the Society’s educational works in New Orleans and Tampa between 1962 and 1971.  In 1971, he became assistant pastor at St. Ignatius Parish in Mobile, where he served as pastor from 1973-1976.  In 1976, he moved to South Carolina, where he would spend the rest of his life in pastoral work, on more than one occasion founding the parish at which he served.  Bert served at Christ Our King Parish in Mt. Pleasant [1977-1989],  Our Lady of Peace in North Augusta [1989-1990], Holy Spirit in Johns Island [1990-1991], and finally St. Mary Magdalene Church in Simpsonville from 1991 until his death.