Father Cuthbert A. Jack, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died May 29, 2015. He was born August 17, 1950 in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest son Eleanor C. (Wheeler) Jack of Monroeville and the late Claude E. Jack. He is survived by one brother, Thomas R. Jack of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, and his wife Linda; a niece, Melinda; a nephew, Andrew; one uncle, several aunts and many cousins.
Father Cuthbert was a 1969 graduate of Gateway Senior High School, Monroeville. Following high school he attended Saint Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh (1969-1971), taking classes at Duquesne University, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy in 1973.
In 1980 he graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing and then worked in Mercy’s Burn Trauma Center as critical care nurse until he entered Saint Vincent Archabbey in 1984.
He made simple profession of monastic vows on July 10, 1985, and solemn profession on July 11, 1989. At Saint Vincent Seminary he earned both the master of divinity and master of arts degrees. He was ordained to the diaconate in July of 1989 and served his deacon internship at Saint Maurice Parish in Forest Hills in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 2, 1990 by Bishop Anthony G. Bosco of Greensburg in Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica.
Father Cuthbert used his talents in a rich variety of ways. He worked as a carpenter, worked as a cook and waiter in restaurants, was a critical-care nurse in the burn unit at Mercy Hospital, all before entering the Saint Vincent Monastic Community in 1984. After his seminary studies, Father Cuthbert undertook intense study of French at Middlebury College in Vermont and its graduate program in Paris. He taught French at Saint Vincent College from 1993 until 2015. He maintained the wide interests of his younger days by baking bread for the monastic community, serving as liaison with food service, and assisting in the monastery infirmary at Saint Vincent. From 1988 to 1990, Father Cuthbert also served as an Opportunity Program advisor and a dormitory moderator in Wimmer Hall at Saint Vincent College.
Since his student days at Duquesne University, Father Cuthbert was interested in the Byzantine liturgy and maintained his interest after ordination in 1990. In 2000 he received bi-ritual faculties from the Vatican’s Congregation for Eastern Churches to serve the faithful of the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and in 2002 he received the appointment to serve as pastor of Saint Mary’s Holy Protection Byzantine Church in Homer City. He also served for a time as the administrator of Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church in Clymer.
Funeral Services for Father Cuthbert will begin with viewing at Saint Mary’s Holy Protection Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer City, Pa., from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2015, followed by a Wake Service (Parastas) at 7 p.m. in the Church.
The Byzantine Divine Liturgy will be celebrated by Archbishop William Skurla, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 1, 2015 at Saint Mary’s Holy Protection Byzantine Catholic Church.
Following the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, on Monday, June 1, the body of Father Cuthbert will be transferred to the Elizabeth J. Roderick Center at Saint Vincent Archabbey for viewing from 3-7 p.m. At 7:15 p.m. a Wake Service will be held in the Archabbey Basilica.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, June 2, in the Archabbey Basilica by Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Rite of Committal rite at the Mary, Mother of Mercy Mausoleum Chapel at Saint Vincent Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Benedictine Health and Welfare Fund, Saint Vincent Archabbey, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650.
