Beloved Fr. Frank Sofie, OP passes away

June 24, 2024

By The Catholic Week
MOBILE – Rev. J. Francis Sofie OP, who humbly served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Mobile for 30 years, died Saturday, June 22, following a prolonged battle with cancer.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Fr. Sofie will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 27 at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile, with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Evening Prayer from the Office of the Dead will also be celebrated on Wednesday, June 26, from 5:30 to 6 p.m. at the Cathedral.
Fr. Sofie first served as parochial vicar at St. Ignatius Parish in Mobile, then followed as campus minister at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Auburn, pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Eufaula, pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Mobile, chaplain at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Mobile, pastor of St. Peter Parish in Montgomery and pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Atmore.
He was most recently in residence at St. Dominic Parish in Mobile.
Before his ordination, he graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Religious Studies and a double minor in Philosophy and History. He attended the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome for the beginning of his theological education and earned his Master of Divinity from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, with a Master of Arts in Systematic Theology. Fr. Sofie was ordained to the sacred priesthood on June 10, 1994, at the Cathedral in Mobile.
In May 2021, a longtime dream of Fr. Sofie’s was realized when he was received into the Priestly Fraternity of St. Dominic, becoming a “Diocesan Dominican” and a son of St. Dominic. He received the religious name of Vincent, from St. Vincent Ferrer, a renowned Dominican preacher and miracle worker.
Fr. Sofie was preceded in death by his parents, John and Carolyn Sofie. He is survived by three sisters: Cecilia (Tom) Sofie-Wyatt, Patti (Angelo) Eleftheriou and Kathy (Roger) Krebs; three nephews: John Rogers (Samantha) Krebs, Richard (Elizabeth) Krebs and Stephen Eleftheriou; and many other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dominican Nuns of Marbury, 143 County Road 20 East, Marbury, Alabama 36501.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. Sofie and for the consolation of his family.

- Check the July 12 edition of The Catholic Week for more on the life of Fr. Sofie.