John Harrod Pfeiffer

John Harrod Pfeiffer, surrounded by 3 of his 6 sons and 20 of his grandchildren, nephews and grand nephews, departed this life on August 20, 2024 shortly after midnight. A practicing Catholic his whole life, John Pfeiffer, commonly called Jack, would become a patriarchal figure and a true pillar of the Church.  He was born the eldest son of John William Pfeiffer and Helen Ann Harrod on February 2, 1939 in Frankfurt KY and was the eldest of two sons.  His younger brother Patrick Kerwin Pfeiffer followed three years later, but preceded Jack into eternity in 1977.   

When yet a school-boy, the Pfeiffers moved to MIami Florida and it was there that he was raised.  After serving in the Marine Corps, he began a trade as a pipe-fitter and married Elizabeth Pfeiffer in 1961.  Several years later, he moved his family to Louisville KY and in 1968 began work as a Pipe fitter in maintenance at the Ford LAP plant in Louisville.  He retired from Ford Motor Company in 2006.

But the spiritual side of Jack Pfeiffer's life was to be the most interesting. Before widespread changes in all forms of Catholic life swept through the Church in the 70s, Jack and Betty Pfeiffer sang in the choir and in this capacity, participated in the first Novus Ordo Mass in their Parish, St. Timothys, Miami, Florida. After moving to Kentucky, and not long after the New Liturgy was fully introduced in 1969, communion in the hand was introduced.   Jack was shocked at this practice which contrasted drastically with the ancient reverence with which Catholics were wont to receive communion in the ancient liturgy.  This prompted him to study more deeply the meaning of his Catholic Faith.  And while he strove to understand the Faith vis a vis the modern changes in the Church, he also defended it in conversation with Protestant fellow-workers at Ford Motor Company who often targeted Catholics as "ïgnorant of the Scriptures."   To this end he purchased the more than 20 volume set of the Catholic Encyclopedia and became proficient at defending and explaining the Catholic Faith.  He would say:  "If it weren't for the crisis in the Church, I would still be a part-time Catholic." 

In 1971 John Pfeiffer learned of Fr. Francis Hannifin in St. Michael's Parish in Fairfield KY who still offered the Traditional Mass.  Though it was a 40 min. drive from Louisville, John Pfeiffer began to bring his family to Fr. Hannifin's Mass.   There at St. Michael's he saw the Mass of his boyhood, and based on the articles of the Catholic Encyclopedia on the Mass, the Liturgy, and Rites, he could verify that it was the true expression of the ancient Catholic Faith.  It was the old rite of the Roman Church, the Mass of the Popes of Rome, and there Jack met other Catholics from different counties who were also seeking the Traditional Mass.  Before long, this traditional "group" attracted the attention of the Bishop of Louisville who began thinking about moving Fr. Hannifin to another parish. This made Fr. Hannifin start thinking about an alternative, such as an early retirement and a private chapel somewhere for his Traditional flock.

Jack Pfeiffer was the laymen who became Fr. Hannifin's "pillar" for this project of saving the Traditional Mass.   In fact, Jack had long pondered the idea of making a refuge for the Faith in the countryside.  And as Fr. Hannifin's idea of a private Chapel to save the Mass became clear, Providence afforded Jack the opportunity to purchase a 40 acre Farm in Boston Ky in 1974.  The chapel, was quickly built and dedicated to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

Mt. Carmel was Fr. Hannifin's last Parish and it became a true light-post for any Catholic desiring to receive the Traditional Preaching and Sacraments of the Catholic Church.   With Jack Pfeiffer in the background providing for the material needs and security of this outpost of Catholic Tradition, Fr. Hannifin was able to carry on a fruitful apostolate until his death in 2001.

And so it was that from 1976 on, Jack Pfeiffer raised his 6 sons in the shadow of Mt. Carmel chapel.

He is survived by his six sons, Fr. J. Timothy Pfeiffer, William Pfeiffer, Bishop Joseph Pfeiffer, Michael Pfeiffer, Anthony Pfeiffer, and James Pfeiffer; thirty-one grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. 

  But a father is also vigilant for the education of his sons, and Jack Pfeiffer quickly recognized the bad influence of public school upon his boys.  Taking advantage of his land, he bought a $200 salvage-it-yourself house in Louisville and rebuilt it on his farm.  True to his fashion, he did the work all by himself assisted by those of his sons who could carry a hammer and a crowbar.  Then, in 1977  inviting a retired English teacher, Paula Haigh to take up residence in the school building, Jack Pfeiffer began to home-school his sons. This wise decision led to two vocations to the Priesthood from his sons, one of whom is now a bishop, while 4 sons married and produced 31 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.  God's blessings from generation to generation continue and among his grandchildren Jack Pfeiffer can count 1 priest, 1 deacon, 1 seminarian and 1 nun.

His Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 am Monday September 9, 2024 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, with burial in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery.  Visitation will be 3 - 8 pm Sunday September 8 at Barlow Funeral Home and 9 - 10:30 am Monday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.  

Your prayers for the soul of John Harrod Pfeiffer are greatly appreciated.

In Jesus and Mary,

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