Fr. Daniel Mirabelli, CSV, died Saturday at the age of 94, in his 75th year of religious life and 66th year of priesthood. His brothers remember him as a devoted educator with big, Italian heart that generously fell in love with the communities he served.
Fr. Daniel early on in religious life
In 1952, Fr. Daniel and Br. Donald Houde, CSV, were the first to profess religious vows in Arlington Heights, IL, and then he was ordained a priest in 1960. For his first assignment as a priest, he was placed at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights for its inaugural school year.
In addition to teaching, Fr. Daniel loved the extracurriculars at high schools, especially athletics, and was often around student activities and sporting events. In fact, the Class of 1965 – the charter class of Saint Viator High School – dedicated the yearbook to him.
After five years, he was reassigned to Alleman High School in Rock Island, IL. The young priest who had fallen in love with the new school didn’t want to leave. “Dan was totally devoted to any school he worked in,” Fr. John Van Wiel, CSV, said. “When he was reassigned from Saint Viator High School, he didn’t want to go. He told me that he wouldn’t leave the next school he worked at – and he didn’t.”
Fr. Daniel pokes a little fun at the beginning of his last year at Alleman.
Remarkably, after Fr. Daniel arrived at Alleman, he never moved again. He served as a history and sociology teacher, business manager, booster club moderator, bookstore manager, development director, and chaplain during an astounding 57-year stint – and even after retiring in 2023, he remained in the area and present to friends in the Alleman community.
“He was a revered figure at Alleman, and someone who some people credit with keeping the school open during hard times,” Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial said.
Fr. John Van Wiel, CSV, an alumnus of Alleman, served as principal of Alleman for 11 years, working alongside Fr. Daniel and living in community with him. “He was a very kind, caring man, very well known and respected by a great number of people,” Fr. John said. “He is like the ‘stamp’ of the school – everybody knows Fr. Mirabelli. He was instrumental in holding together the mission of the school.”
Bishop Christopher Glancy, CSV, also attended and graduated from Alleman, knowing Fr. Daniel first while he was a student and then as a brother in religious life. Bishop Chris’ mother still lives in the area, so he would visit Fr. Daniel when he was out to see his mom.
Fr. Daniel (seated) teamed up with two of his brothers, Fr. John (left) and Bishop Chris (right), who are Alleman alumni to celebrate Homecoming Week Mass in 2022.
“Fr. Mirabelli came to the Viatorians out of Fenwick High School, and while it was Dominican, we had Viatorians teaching there, too. He really connected with Fr. Joe Canella, CSV, who was a young priest at the time – and of course, a fellow Italian. And then Dan fell in love with teaching,” Bishop Glancy said. “He loved Catholic education and loved teaching, and he was an organized and dedicated teacher. At Saint Viator those first years, he was known as Fr. Viator – he gave himself to that place. And then in Rock Island, he became Fr. Alleman.”
In 2022, Fr. John and Bishop Chris returned to celebrate Homecoming Week Mass at Alleman with many concelebrant priests, including Fr. Daniel. For them and fellow Alleman alumnus Fr. Bill Hasaeart, CSV, who couldn’t attend, it was a small way to celebrate the long, wide Viatorian impact that the community has had there – and that this community has made on Viatorians such as Fr. Daniel.
When Fr. Daniel reached 60 years in religious life back in 2012, Br. Don interviewed him for the Viatorian publications. “What I have been able to accomplish in my ministry, I credit to the Viatorians who were role models during the early years of my formation. They made me into the priest I am today,” Fr. Daniel said.
The visitation for Fr. Daniel is Sunday, March 1, 1-6pm, at Alleman’s Morris Gymnasium. The funeral will be at Sacred Heart Church in Moline, IL, on Monday, March 2, 11am, celebrated by Fr. Mark with Bishop Chris as homilist.
May Fr. Daniel rest in peace.