It is with the heaviest of hearts and profound shock that we share the devastating news of the sudden and unexpected passing of Rev. Kenneth Michael Molinaro, C.S.C., known affectionately as Fr. Ken Molinaro, on February 10, 2026, at Holy Cross House in Notre Dame, Indiana.
At the age of 77, Fr. Molinaro died peacefully after a life devoted to priestly ministry, education, and service within the Congregation of Holy Cross. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, where he was born on June 30, 1948, he entered religious life as a member of the Holy Cross community, embracing a vocation that combined deep faith with a passion for forming young minds.
His tenure at Notre Dame College Prep in Niles, Illinois formerly known as Notre Dame High School—spanned significant chapters, including serving as principal throughout much of the 1990s and later becoming the school’s first president, roles that guided the institution through growth, transition, and a strengthened commitment to Catholic education and values.
Fr. Molinaro’s leadership at Notre Dame College Prep left an indelible mark, as he helped shape the school’s direction during a pivotal era of expansion and modernization while maintaining its core identity as a place of academic excellence and spiritual formation. Before joining the Niles campus, he spent several years as an educator in South Bend-area schools affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross, building foundational experience in teaching and administration that informed his later work.
His approach emphasized nurturing the whole person, blending rigorous academics with pastoral care, and fostering an environment where students could thrive intellectually and morally. Colleagues and alumni recall his steady guidance, which supported the school’s evolution into a respected institution while preserving the Holy Cross tradition of educating hearts and minds in service to others.
The Notre Dame College Prep community now mourns this profound loss, recognizing Fr. Molinaro as a guiding figure whose vision and dedication influenced generations of students, faculty, and families. His contributions extended beyond administrative duties to embody the priestly call of accompaniment, offering counsel, encouragement, and a model of compassionate leadership.
The Holy Cross community and others will have a chance to come together in prayer and remembering on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Moreau Seminary and Scholasticate in Notre Dame, Indiana, for Fr. Molinaro’s wake service. In a revered location that is essential to the congregation’s history, the Funeral Mass is set for Monday, February 16, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. ET in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the University of Notre Dame campus.
Our thoughts remain with the Congregation of Holy Cross, the Notre Dame College Prep community, alumni, colleagues, and all who cherished Fr. Ken Molinaro as they navigate this time of grief. May they find comfort in the memories of his faithful ministry, the lives he shaped through education, and the spiritual guidance he offered so generously. Rest in peace, Fr. Molinaro; your service continues to bear fruit in the hearts you formed.
