Father Damian J. Warnock, O.S.B., 89, a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died Friday, October 28, 2022. He was a son of the late James and Mary Myrtle (McClane) Warnock. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 21, 1932, he was one of ten children, including the late Ruth M. Gilardi. Violett Scott, John M., James H., William G., Robert J., Thomas M., Paul R. and Robert G. Warnock. Surviving are three nieces, Marlene DeFazio of West Mifflin, and Francis Bianchi and Margaret Mader of Pittsburgh.
Father Damian attended Saint Joseph Parochial School in Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, and was a 1950 graduate of Washington Vocational Center in Pittsburgh. He received a bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts in 1975 from Saint Vincent College, and a master of divinity degree in 1978 from Saint Vincent Seminary.
He entered Holy Trinity Monastery, Butler, in 1967. He made simple profession of vows on July 21, 1968. He transferred his vows to Saint Vincent Archabbey in 1970 and made solemn profession of vows on October 22, 1971. He was ordained a priest in Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica by the Most Rev. William Connare, Bishop of Greensburg, on May 19, 1979.
Father Damian served the Archabbey, Seminary and College communities in a variety of capacities. He was appointed to serve the monastic community at the Saint Vincent Archabbey Press in 1970, and was named as its director in 1973. At Saint Vincent Seminary, he served as Dean of Students (1980–88). He managed the Saint Vincent Post Office from 1992 to 2002, until he was appointed chaplain at Latrobe Area Hospital, serving in that capacity until 2006. In 2006, he was named director of the Office of the Porter at the Archabbey.
The viewing begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, November 3 in the parlor of Roderick Hall at Saint Vincent Seminary, and continue until 5 p.m. A wake service will begin at 7:15 p.m. in the Archabbey Basilica, with Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., serving as celebrant and homilist. A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 1 p.m. Friday, November 4 in the Basilica, with Archabbot Martin as the principal celebrant and Father Jude Brady, O.S.B., serving as homilist. The Rite of Committal will follow in the Mary Mother of Mercy Mausoleum Chapel at Saint Vincent Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Benedictine Health and Welfare Fund at Saint Vincent Archabbey, 300 Fraser Purchase Rd., Latrobe, PA 15650.