Saint Viator Mourns the Passing of Rev. Lawrence D. Lentz, C.S.V.
Rev. Lawrence D. Lentz, C.S.V. died on June 15, 2026, at Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas. He was born March 11, 1945, in Springfield, IL, the son of Russell and Juanita (Turner) Lentz. He is survived by his sister, Lauralene Mascarella Carty, and his brother, Michael. His parents and his sister, Mary Elizabeth Gard, preceded him in death.
Fr. Lentz graduated from Bishop Griffin High School, Springfield, IL, in 1963 and entered the novitiate of the Clerics of St. Viator. He pronounced his first vows on September 8, 1964, and was ordained on May 16, 1981, by Bishop Joseph McNicholas at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Springfield, IL. He earned a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Education Curriculum from Loyola University Chicago, then attended Cambridge University in England for postgraduate studies. He earned a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
In 1968, he was assigned to teach English at Saint Viator High School, where he became Chair of the English Department (1971-77). During his diaconate year (1980-81), he was assigned to Maternity BVM Church in Bourbonnais, IL. He then returned to Saint Viator High School to serve consecutive terms as Assistant Principal, Principal, and President (1981-86). Next, he became Parochial Vicar at St. Viator Church in Chicago (1986-1991), Pastor of Maternity BVM (1991-1999), and Pastor of St. Viator Church, Chicago (1999-2002). After that, he served at Guardian Angel Cathedral in Las Vegas as Parochial Vicar (2002-2003) and later as Rector (2003-2011) and at St. Thomas More Catholic Community in Henderson, NV, as Associate Pastor (2011-2013). He then served the community as Assistant Provincial (2013-2017), during which he began a stint as Associate Pastor at St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas (2015-2020), followed by a part-time Sacramental Minister role (2020-2026).
Services for Fr. Lentz will be held at St. Viator Catholic Church, 2461 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, with visitation on Monday, June 22, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., followed by a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, June 23, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon at St. Viator Parish Center. Interment will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL, at a later date.
