Beloved Fr. Anthony (Tony) Judge, who embodied the Redemptorist charism and dedicated his ministry to the poor and the immigrant, died unexpectedly on August 5, 2021 in Minneapolis. Known for his generous and compassionate spirit, Fr. Tony was an exceptional missionary preacher and a leader in Hispanic Ministry in the Denver Province.

Lawrence (Larry) and Margaret Mary (Peggy) Powers Judge welcomed Anthony Timothy, their fifth of seven children, on September 25, 1952 in St. Louis. The tight-knit, loving family was very connected to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. Two of Peggy’s brothers – Fr. Tony and Fr. Joe Powers – were Redemptorist priests of the former St. Louis Province, and the family was very involved at St. Alphonsus “Rock” Parish in St. Louis. They had a deep devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and religiously participated in the weekly novena.

Two of his sisters joined the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and the strong Redemptorist presence in his life influenced Tony to enroll in the Redemptorist seminary. He entered St. Joseph Preparatory College near Edgerton, WI, in September of 1967. He formed lifelong friendships with his classmates, who describe him as a humble and kind man who genuinely cared about people. “He was a true friend,” said Fr. Joe Dorcey, a classmate and very close friend. “He had a great sense of humor and he loved to laugh – a hearty belly laugh. He was smart, athletic, and was quite musical. He had a wonderful rich bass voice, and he played the bass guitar in different seminary bands and singing groups, like Pie in Your Face and the Collarmen.

He also was a great cook who enjoyed preparing delicious meals.”Tony and his classmates entered novitiate in 1972 and professed temporary vows on August 5, 1973. They graduated from Holy Redeemer College in Waterford, WI in May of 1976, made second novitiate, and professed perpetual vows on August 21, 1976. They proceeded to Esopus, NY for four years of theological studies. Tony was ordained to the priesthood by Redemptorist Bishop Gutemberg Freire Régis of Brazil on May 31, 1979.

Newly ordained Fr. Tony’s first mission was to the Vice-Province of Manaus in the Amazon Region of Brazil. He embraced the people and the culture, and learned to speak Brazilian Portuguese exceptionally well. He served as a parish priest at Our Lady of Grace Church in Codajás, Amazonas from 1980 to 1985, and as pastor and local superior of St. Ann/St. Sebastian Parish in Coari from 1985 to 1990. He formed life-long friendships and enjoyed many adventures ministering to people living in the towns and villages along the Rio Solimões (Amazon River).

After 10 years, he returned to the United States, and quickly learned Spanish so that he could provide pastoral care to Hispanics and newly arrived immigrants in the language in which they speak to God. He ministered to the Spanish-speaking as a parish priest at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Greeley, CO from 1990 to 1992. He was appointed pastor and local superior of St. Joseph Parish, which serves a large Hispanic community in Denver, in 1992.

Newly ordained Fr. John Fahey Guerra, the current Provincial Vicar, was fresh out of the seminary when he was appointed to the parish. “Tony was such a good man,” he said. “I had all kinds of ideas I wanted to try at that time, and he was very encouraging and supportive.”

Fr. Tony also met and mentored Br. Larry Luján, Provincial Consultor, during these years. “Fr. Tony had a heart as big as his stature,” Br. Larry said. “His ability to listen in a non-judgmental way, his laughter and story-telling, and his down-to-earth personality all communicated what he believed and lived for – the Redemptive Love of Jesus Christ – which shone through all of his actions. He was like the Gospel in living form – a brother, a friend and one of the kindest people I have ever known. His death has left a great hole in my heart, but I know I am a better Christian today because of his friendship. I can truly say Tony was a friend of Jesus.”

While Fr. Tony was serving as bilingual coordinator of the Redemptorist Hispanic Ministry at Holy Redeemer in Oakland in 2000, he and Fr. John were investigating dioceses throughout the country for a Redemptorist Hispanic Initiative. They settled on the Diocese of Dodge City, Kansas and started a ministry in Liberal in 2001.

Fr. Tony served as superior of the community involved in the new venture, which was founded primarily for the evangelization of Hispanic migrants in the rural area. The team successfully concluded that initiative in 2008.

Fr. Tony joined the Redemptorist Mission Team in Chicago as an itinerant mission preacher in 2008, and was appointed director of the Mission Team in 2011. “He deeply touched people through his preaching,” said Fr. Maurice Nutt, who knew him since his childhood and was a partner on the mission team. “His preaching was always Christ-centered and yet related to human experiences. Like St. Alphonsus talking about being pazzo –crazy – in love with Christ, Tony’s preaching drew people to a greater love of Christ.”

Four years later, Fr. Tony was assigned associate pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish, the large multicultural parish he was serving at the time of his death. Confreres agree with Fr. Bill Peterson: Fr. Tony was the heart and soul of Hispanic Ministry at the parish.

A Memorial Mass in Spanish was celebrated at St. Alphonsus Parish in Minneapolis on August 12, including the rosary. A Mass of Resurrection will also be celebrated at St. Alphonsus Rock Church in St. Louis on August 14. Visitation is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am; Mass will begin at 1:00 pm. Burial at the Redemptorist Cemetery in Liguori will be scheduled at a later date.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.