It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Fr. Peter Gallagher, member of Kevin Barry Division 3, and former Pastor, teacher, and friend of many in our community.
Obituary
Rev. John Peter Gallagher, a native of Shelbyville, passed to eternal life on February 6 in the rectory of Our Lady of the Springs Parish in French Lick, Ind., where he had served as pastor since 2018.
Father Peter was born on January 23, 1961 in Shelbyville to the late David and Elizabeth (Moore) Gallagher. He and his family later lived for periods in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota before returning to Shelbyville. Father Peter graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1979.
From his time as a child, he had felt a call to serve God and the Catholic Church in which he was raised as a priest. So, after high school, he became a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and received formation at the former Saint Meinrad College in St. Meinrad, Ind., graduating from there in 1983.
At that time, Father Peter discerned a possible call to be a Benedictine monk at Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad. He entered the novitiate there in 1983 and professed vows for a three-year period in 1984. After living out those vows, Father Peter left the archabbey and moved to California.
For two years, he taught a diverse student body at the former Daniel Murphy High School, an all-boys Catholic school in the poverty-stricken south-central neighborhood of Los Angeles.
During that time, Father Peter felt God’s call to the priesthood again and became a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, earning a master of divinity degree at St. John Seminary in Camarillo, Calif. In the final year of his formation, however, he became a seminarian again for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and was ordained a priest on June 6, 1992 in SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis.
In his 28 years of priestly life and ministry in central and southern Indiana, Father Peter served in a wide variety of settings: from urban high schools and parishes, to faith communities in suburbs, small towns and rural areas.
For several years, Father Peter was also the chaplain for the Indianapolis Colts National Football League team, including when it won the Super Bowl in 2007.
In his last two years of ministry, Father Peter served as pastor of Our Lady of the Springs Parish in French Lick and Our Lord Jesus Christ the King Parish in Paoli, Ind.
He died doing what he had felt God had called him to do from an early age: serving his people, leading them in worship and service and helping them grow in faith.
Surviving are Father Peter’s sisters: Ann Gallagher of Indianapolis, Ind.; Beth Keele of Lincoln, Neb.; and Kate Gallagher of Omaha, Neb.; his brothers David Lee Gallagher of Indianapolis; Kevin Gallagher of Fort Collins, Colo.; Pat Gallagher of Shelbyville; and R.T. Gallagher of Bloomfield, Ind.; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Brian Gallagher.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, 1400 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.
Story from Dearborn County Register
Former St. Lawrence Church pastor the Rev. Peter John Gallagher died Feb. 6. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Born Jan. 23, 1961, he was ordained June 6, 1992. In 2009 he became pastor of St. Lawrence, Lawrenceburg and fell in love with the town. In 2015, he was reappointed pastor.
Current St. Lawrence pastor the Rev. Ben Syberg said, “St. Lawrence will always be a special place for him.”
He was granted temporary leave of absence in January 2018. He later became pastor of Our Lady of the Springs, French Lick, and Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, Paoli.
He served in many different parishes including as associate pastor of Holy Spirit, Indianapolis; pastor of Holy Cross, Indianapolis; and sacramental minister of St. Patrick and Holy Rosary, Indianapolis. He was chaplain at Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School; and associate pastor of St. Malachy, Brownsburg, chaplain, Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School, Indianapolis; 2007.
According to Syberg, Gallagher loved football and became the chaplain of the Indianapolis Colts. He was sacramental assistant at St. Anthony and Holy Trinity, Indianapolis, while continuing as chaplain at Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School, Indianapolis. He also taught religion for many years.
During a game between Cardinal Ritter and Lawrenceburg High Schools, Gallagher wondered, “Where is the God-forsaken town of Lawrenceburg and when can I get home?” according to Syberg.
Syberg said it will be difficult during the pandemic to make funeral arrangements so that those who wished to pay their respects could do so.
Visitation & Mass of Christian Burial
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on February 22 at St. Joseph Church, 125 E. Broadway, in Shelbyville. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Shelbyville.
Visitation will take place from 4-8 p.m. on Feb. 21 and from 9-11 a.m. on Feb. 22 at St. Joseph Church. On February 21, the reception of the body will take place at 4 p.m. and a vigil service will be prayed at 7 p.m. Masks and social distancing will be required for the visitation and Mass of Christian Burial.
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