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The Passing of Father John Pungente, SJ, Media Educator (1939 – 2023)

20Dec23

Father John Pungente, SJ

Fr. John Pungente died December 6, 2023 in René Goupil Residence, Pickering, Ontario. He was in his 84th year and a Jesuit for 66 years. He was born in Port Arthur, Ontario, but grew up in Brandon, Manitoba. He was the son of John Pungente and Mary Wikien. John entered the Jesuits in 1957 and was ordained in 1971. He was then missioned to St Paul’s High School, Winnipeg, as a teacher and film guide, all the while serving as Chair of the Manitoba Film Board from 1972 to 1976. He was appointed Principal of St. Paul’s High School in 1976, a post he held for seven years. In 1985 he moved to Toronto to become Director of the Jesuit Communication Project, a role he fulfilled for thirty-four years. While holding that position he co-authored Media Literacy: A Resource Guide (1989), Meet the Media (1990), the award winning teaching kit, Scanning Television (1996), More than Meets the Eye: Watching TV Watching Us (1999) and Finding God in the Dark: The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Go To The Movies (2004).

In 1997, John created and hosted the award-winning television show: Scanning the Movies, and produced the video: A Heart to Understand. He was also president of the Canadian Association of Media Education Organizations. In 2018 he moved to Lourdes Parish, Toronto, doing pastoral ministry and editing the online Jesuit blog, IgNation. In early 2022, in diminishing health, he moved to La Storta Jesuit Community and subsequently to René Goupil Residence in Pickering.

Visitation: Manresa Chapel, Pickering, Monday, December 18 from 7 to 9 p.m., with Vigil Prayers at 8 p.m. Funeral: Manresa Chapel, Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 10 a.m.; followed by burial at 2 p.m. in the Jesuit Cemetery, Guelph. Family and friends may also join the mass via live webcasting at: https://pickartphoto.com/stream/
FrJohnPungente/

Donations to the Jesuit Advancement Office, 43 Queen’s Park Cres. E., Toronto, ON M5S 2C3, (416-962-4500) would be appreciated as your expression of sympathy.

Condolences: www.rosar-morrison.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec. 16, 2023.

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A Remembrance by Howard R. Engel –
Dear Jesuit Fathers and McLuhan friends:

I was most saddened to learn of the untimely falling asleep in the Lord of the late Fr. John J. Pungente in the Winnipeg Free Press Passages section from this past Saturday, Dec. 16/23.

In addition to his accomplishments mentioned in his aforementioned obituary, Fr. John and his Jesuit Communications Project was the joint recipient of the Marshall McLuhan Initiative-sponsored Medium and the Light Award for 2014. See: – https://mcluhangalaxy.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/2014-medium-light-award-goes-to-father-john-pungente-sj-media-educator/

On a personal note, Fr. John was my high school principal for nearly my whole time I attended St. Paul’s High School in    Winnipeg, 1975-1979. I have fond memories of him from this
formative time.
As the Brazilian liberation theologian, Leonardo Boff, wrote in his Way of the Cross – Way of Justice, “Human beings are not born to die; they die to be resurrected.” (Orbis Books: Maryknoll, NY, 1980, p. 122)
May God bless John for the good things he has done, forgive his sins and grant him repose with the just. May Fr. John rest in peace and may God grant his memory to be eternal! May what is offered be holy, and may what is broken be healed. May Fr. John’s memory be a blessing.
Sincerely,
Howard R. Engel
Founding Director & C.E.O.
The Marshall McLuhan Initiative
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

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See also: – “2014 Medium & Light Award Goes to Father John Pungente SJ, Media Educator,” In the McLuhan Galaxy, July 9, 2014: https://tinyurl.com/3rduk89u

Father John Pungente, S.J., with the Medium & Light Award presented to him by the Marshall McLuhan Initiative   (Photo courtesy of the Marshall McLuhan Initiative)

Filed under: Academic, Announcement, Commentary, Influenced by McLuhan, Manitoba, Media Ecology, Obituary, Religion, Remembrance   |  Closed
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