Valentine Young

Notes:

Published:
February 08, 2009
Cumberland Times-News

Father Valentine Young [Denver]
Cumberland Times-News

DENVER, Colo. — Father Valentine Young, O.F.M., Cap., 86, whose active pastoral service in downtown St. Louis, Mo., extended over 47 years, died at St. Anthony Hospital-Central in Denver, Friday, Feb. 6, 2009.

Born Sept. 29, 1922, in Cumberland, Valentine Young was the third of the six children of the late Arthur Francis and Lenore Virginia(Lippold) Young. He received the name William Howard in baptism, and pursued his early education at SS Peter and Paul's School in Cumberland.

Shortly before his 14th birthday, he began studies for the priesthood at St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman, Pa., where his brother, Arthur Francis Jr., was already a high school sophomore. William completed high school and junior college there. At the age of 19, he entered the Capuchin novitiate in his hometown of Cumberland, taking the religious name Brother Valentine. The following day, his older brother, now known as Brother DeSales, made his first profession as a Capuchin.

Making his own first profession in 1943, Valentine journeyed westward to the Capuchin School of Philosophy in Victoria, Kan. Two years later theological studies took him to Capuchin College in Washington.

His older brother was ordained a priest in 1948 and on June 7, 1949, Archbishop (later Cardinal) Patrick O'Boyle raised Valentine to the priesthood in the crypt church of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

The newly ordained priests' first assignment was on the faculty of his alma mater in Herman, where for 12 years he taught Latin, religion and music. For most of that time he also served as spiritual director and seminary confessor. Returning to Washington five summers during this time, he earned a master's in religious education from Catholic University of America in 1958, writing his thesis on "The Role of Function of the Spiritual Director in the Minor Seminary". He also published during that time a book of daily meditations for young seminarians.

Valentine spent the rest of his life in St. Louis, where he began his long service as director of the Catholic Information Center in 1961, pastor of St. Patrick's Church in 1981, and spiritual administrator of St. Joseph's Shrine in 1984. In these capacities, he ministered to the people of all walks of life and social status, including thousands of people in need of a lift up.

At its triennial chapter in 2001, the Capuchin Province of Mid-America awarded Father Valentine its highest recognition, the Conrad Key for his service to the poor of downtown St. Louis.

From sometime in the early 1960's till just very recently, Valentine posted a daily "Dial-a-Saint" message, which was accessible by telephone. He also ran numerous fund-raising projects, which assisted the Capuchins in their training of seminarians.

Valentine found time for fun, and his principal hobby was golf. He was known through the area as a skilled amateur golfer. Yet even on the course, he found frequent opportunities to bring spiritual assistance to his fellow players.

During these years he also served the local Capuchin fraternity at St. Charles Borromeo Friary, and later St. Patrick's Friary, by serving alternately as superior and assistant superior for the last three decades of his life. He was also spiritual assistant of the Secular Franciscan Order's St. Charles Borromeo fraternity, 1989 to 1993; and promoter of the Seraphic Mass Association, 1966 to 1977.

In 1978, Valentine served as the local director of the Congress for Religious Life at St. Louis' Cervantes Convention Center. This enabled him to serve as host for Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta's visit to the city. He later wrote of this "deeply religious encounter" in an article for Immaculats magazine.

When the Capuchin province to which the Young brothers belonged divided in 1977, Valentine opted to be a part of a new western entity, and his brother DeSales opted to be a member of the new eastern one. As a result, however, of the Province of Mid-America's 2008 decision to close its two houses in St. Louis, Father Valentine was planning to relocate in Philadelphia nearer to his family. The sudden discovery of inoperable cancer kept him in St. Louis and then Denver.

Father was predeceased by his parents and his older sister, Ann McKenzie.

He is survived by four siblings, Father DeSales Young, of Pittsburgh, Helene Teter, of Paoli, Pa., Paul Young and wife Irene, of Martinsburg, W.Va., and Mary Lenore "Polly" Taylor and husband Cas, of Cumberland; and numerous nieces; nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews.

There will be a reception of the body at St. Patrick's Oratory, 33rd and Pecos, Denver, 4 p.m., Feb. 9, followed shortly thereafter by evening prayer and funeral Mass.

The body will then be taken to Cumberland, where there will be a public viewing held at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the church on Saturday at noon, Feb. 14, the Feast of St. Valentine.

The Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., 108 Virginia Ave., Cumberland scarpellifh.com , is handling the arrangements.

Family links:
Parents:
Arthur Francis Young (1893 - 1966)
Lenore Virginia Lippold Young (1897 - 1982)


Burial:
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery
Cumberland
Allegany County
Maryland
GPS (lat/lon): 39.65532, -78.77837

Created by: Joe Mckenzie
Record added: Feb 09, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial# 33684107



Added by: Joe Mckenzie


Added by: Joe Mckenzie


Cemetery Photo
Added by: William E. Scialdone


Photos may be scaled.
Click on image for full size.




Thinking of you today Uncle Val.
- Joe Mckenzie
Added: Sep. 16, 2009
Uncle Val you were always so happy. I loved the golf pants all the time when I was little. I am grateful to have you perform my wedding ceremony and for the time I had to visit in St. Louis. I will miss you!
- Michelle McKenzie-Duncan
Added: Feb. 11, 2009
Such a gracious man.I wonder if we'll ever know how much you taught us?
- Joe's sister
Added: Feb. 11, 2009

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