NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Rev. James William Thornton, C.S.C., 88, died at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind., on January 17, 2026, after a short illness.
Fr. Thornton was born in Palo Alto, Calif., on January 18, 1937, to James and Cyrilla (Dolan) Thornton, Sr., and is the only child. After graduating from Newport Harbor Union High School in Newport Beach, Orange County, Calif., in 1953, he attended the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a bachelor’s in philosophy in 1959. He entered the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Jordan, Minn., on September 20, 1954; professed First Vows on August 16, 1955; professed Final Vows on August 16, 1958, and was ordained a Holy Cross priest on December 18, 1964. In 1963, Fr. Thornton obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from Gregorian University, Rome, Italy, and in 1982 earned a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Oregon, Eugene, Ore.
After ordination in 1964, Fr. Thornton taught at Notre Dame High School, Niles, IL, until 1966; From 1966 to 1971, he studied at the Institut Catholique, Paris. During 1971-1972, he resided at Moreau Seminary, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN. At this time, his ministry work took him to Oregon where he assisted at the University of Portland, Portland, Ore., from 1972-1979; entered advanced studies at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Ore., from 1979-1982; assisted at the University of Portland, Portland, Ore. From 1981-1984, and worked at the DePaul Center as assistant from 1984-1987 and director from 1987- 1990. Fr. Thornton transitioned to chief executive officer of Our Primary Purpose, a treatment center, in Des Moines, Iowa. Starting in 1990, he began pastoral ministry serving as the associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Colorado Springs, Colo., from 1991-1996; associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Notre Dame, Ind., 1996-1998; facilitator at Worldwide Marriage Encounter from 1997-2021 and administrator at St. Gregory Parish in Phoenix, Ariz., from 1999-2000. From 2001- 2023, Fr. Thornton resided at Casa Santa Cruz in Phoenix, Ariz., before residing at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind. from 2023 until his passing.
Preceding Fr. Thornton in death are his parents. He is survived by beloved cousins.
A Wake Service will be held on Tuesday, January 27, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Moreau Seminary and Scholasticate, Notre Dame, Ind. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, January 28, at 3:30 p.m. ET at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, Ind. You may join via livestream at https://funerals.holycrossusa.org. Burial will be in the community cemetery at Notre Dame. Kaniewski Funeral Home, South Bend, is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765 or online at https://donate.holycrossusa.org.
