MARSH, O.Carm., Ivan Cormac

CARMELITE PRIEST IVAN CORMAC MARSH DIES 

 (April 25, 2024; Darien, IL) The Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary (PCM), Order of Carmelites, mourns the death of the Reverend Ivan Cormac March, O. Carm., who died at the age of 87 on April 25, 2024. 

Father Ivan’s viewing will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1420 31st Street, Galveston, Texas, 77550, on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 9:30am, and be immediately followed by Funeral Mass at 11:00am. Immediately following Mass, interment will take place at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 7801 Gulf Fwy, Dickinson, TX, 77539.  

Ivan was born to (the late) Robert Marsh and (the late) Beulah (Dixon) Marsh on January 16, 1937, in Weeks Island, Louisiana. His given name at baptism was Ivan John.  

Ivan attended Holy Rosary Grade School and Central High School in Galveston, Texas. Ivan joined the Christian Brothers and took simple vows in 1957. He then earned his B.A. (1960) and MA of Education (1965) from St Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota. He also earned a MA from Manhattan College (1970) in Bronx, NY. From 1960-1975, Br. Ivan served as a teacher in six different Christian Brothers’ high schools, and from 1975 to 1978, he served as director for the Christian Brothers Retreat Center in Joliet, Illinois.  

In 1978, Ivan joined the Carmelites and professed solemn vows on December 14, 1979. He went on to earn a MA of Divinity from Immaculate Conception Seminary (1980) in Darlington, NJ, and was ordained a Carmelite Priest on May 17, 1980.  While continuing his theological studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary he performed parish work at St. Anastasia Parish in Teaneck, NJ, serving consecutively as intern, deacon, local vocation director, and finally as associate pastor. In June 1982 Fr. Ivan moved to St. Elias Priory in Joliet, Illinois. For two years he served as Campus Minister/Director at Lewis University and as Midwest Vocation Director. Then, after a one-year sabbatical for studies in spirituality at University of St. Louis, he moved to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Priory in Williamstown, MA to serve as novice master from 1985 to 1987. Fr. Ivan moved to Whitefriars Hall in Washington, DC where he served as Georgetown University Campus Minister (1987 to 1994) and then Acting Director of Campus Ministry (1994 to 1996), while concurrently teaching at the university. In 1996 Fr. Ivan moved to Mahwah, NJ where he served as Spiritual Director at the Carmelite Retreat and then to Houston, TX in 2000 where he served as Spiritual Director at St. Mary’s Seminary. Finally, in 2007, Fr. Ivan retired to St. Cyril Priory of Alexandria Priory in Tucson, AZ. In 2014 he moved to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Priory, also in Tucson, AZ. Due to health care needs, in 2019 Fr. Ivan moved to the Sunrise at River Road Assisted Living Facility in Tucson, AZ, where he remained until his death. 

May he rest in peace. 

Donations in honor of the Reverend Ivan Cormac March, O. Carm., may be made to: The Society of Mount Carmel, 1317 North Frontage Road, Darien, Illinois, 60561.  

For further information on the Reverend Ivan Cormac Marsh, O. Carm., or the Order of Carmelites, please contact Carmelite Media at (630) 971-0724 or visit the Carmelite website at www.carmelites.net.