NOTED MIDWESTERN CATHOLIC PRIEST, ETHNIC PASTOR and ROMAN CATHOLIC ROTA OFFICIAL.
MSGR. ADRIAN I. DWYER was a Roman Catholic priest who was the long-time Pastor of St. Ambrose Church--comprised of the famed Italian "Hill" neighborhood of St. Louis, MO. He served the majority of his priestly years in pastoral service to the Italian-American Catholic Community in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Msgr. Dwyer, of Irish-American heritage, was a native of All Saints Parish in the central St. Louis suburb of University City. He worked in most of his priestly assignments with the Italian-American community of the Archdiocese, serving at the New Cathedral of St. Louis, Our Lady Help of Christians Church (now closed), St. Ambrose (as pastor) and St. Roch (near Washington University) as Senior Priest in Service. He also served as a U.S. Navy Chaplain during World War II.

Extremely popular with Italian-American Catholics of all ages and others, he was Pastor during the time of baseball greats Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola's residency at St. Ambrose, as well as other noted Italian-Americans in the civic, professional and business communities. His proficiency in the Italian language, as well as his excellent cross-cultural and interpersonal skills, made him a well-loved figure among this ethnic community in greater St. Louis.

Ordained on December 8, 1936, Msgr. Dwyer was a graduate of the North American College in Rome. He also served as a Judge on the Roman Catholic International Marriage Tribunal known as the "Rota." He was a compassionate Pastor, counselor, mentor and priest to all who knew him--and even a sports enthusiast.

Msgr. Dwyer was one of the first priests in the USA to practice yoga as a form of exercise and relaxation.

He diligently maintained his physical health with regular periodic athletics and exercise--which ultimately contributed to his more than 90 years of life. Few clergy in this region could demonstrate his health and vitality. He was the last living member of his 1936 Ordination Class at the time of his passing.

After his death in 2003, Msgr. Dwyer willed his body to St. Louis University Medical School. A Memorial Mass was celebrated for him at St. Roch Church (his last priestly assignment), by one of his vocations, Msgr. Sal Polizzi, St. Roch pastor. Msgr. Dwyer's remains are interred in the Medical School plot at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery. He is also remembered with an inscription in St. Ambrose Church on "the Hill."

Msgr. Dwyer, known as "La Buon Pastore" (the "Good Pastor"), will be long remembered by his Archdiocese and the people he served so well!