SEATTLE — Dominican Father Thomas Dominic Kraft, a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans), died at the priory of the Blessed Sacrament in Seattle, Wash. on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. Fr. Thomas was the son of Gene and Julia Kraft of Spokane, Wash. Fr. Thomas was born December 17, 1953, attended elementary and secondary schools in Spokane and then did undergraduate studies at Gonzaga University in Spokane and Eastern Washington University in Cheney. After graduation, he volunteered as a teacher with the Archdiocese of Seattle. In 1977 he entered the Dominican Order in Oakland, Calif., professed his final vows in 1981 and was ordained in 1986. His philosophy and theology studies took place at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, Calif., and at Blackfriars College at the University of Oxford, England. Further language studies were at the Universidad Javeriana in Santa Fe de Bogota, Columbia. During the years of his priesthood he ministered at the Catholic Campus Ministries at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He worked for many years as a missionary in the Dominican parish in Mexicali, Baja, Mexico, and then was appointed director of the campus ministry at the University of Washington in Seattle. From there he was assigned as the coordinator of the retreat program at Gonzaga University in Spokane, and then returned to Blessed Sacrament Parish in Seattle when he became ill with cancer. Fr. Thomas had a great love for his priesthood and the opportunity to preach and minister in the name of Christ. He had a special affection for the people in Mexicali and for the poor wherever he found them. He is deeply loved by all those who knew him in the various ministry settings where he worked. He is survived by his father, Gene; his brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Karen and their children, Olivia, Alexandra, John, and Yvette; and his brother, Mike, all of Spokane, Wash., as well as his sister and brother-in-law, Christina and Jeff Williams and their daughter, Annelise, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.. His mother, Julia, preceded him in death. A Vigil Service was held for Fr. Kraft Tues. Jan. 27th at 7:00 p.m. and the Funeral Mass was celebrated Wed., Jan. 28th, at 10:00 a.m., BOTH at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 5041 9th Ave. N. E., Seattle. Another Vigil Service was held for him Thurs., Jan. 29th, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Albert the Great Priory in Oakland, Calif., with another Funeral Mass Friday, Jan. 30th, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Dominic Catholic Church, Benicia, Calif.. He was buried at the Dominican Cemetery in Benicia. Donations in memory of Fr. Kraft can be made to the Western Dominican Province, 5877 Birch Ct., Oakland, Calif. 94618. Please sign the online guestbook at www.legacy.com
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