Father John W. Eybel, MM

Born: June 18, 1944
Ordained: May 23, 1970
Died: January 28, 2026

Father John W. Eybel died on January 28, 2026 in the Skilled Nursing Unit at Maryknoll, New York. Father Eybel was 81 years old and a Maryknoll priest for 55 years.

John Wilbur Eybel was born June 18, 1944 in Oakland, California, the son of John F. and Grace Foley Eybel. He attended the Holy Name Sisters’ Marylrose grade school in Oakland. Later, in Bakersfield, he attended St. Francis grade school with the Dominican Sisters and Garces Memorial High School with the Christian Brothers (FSC) before entering Maryknoll in 1961.

Father Eybel was ordained a priest on May 23, 1970. After his ordination, he was assigned to work in Tanzania. He studied the Luo language at Maryknoll Language School in Musoma, Tanzania, and then served in parish ministry at Kowak Catholic Church in Musoma Diocese from 1971 to 1974.

After returning to language school to learn Swahili, the national language of Tanzania, Father Eybel worked at St. Pius Seminary, a secondary school in Musoma Diocese, from 1976 to 1980. During this time, he held various roles: vice-rector, bursar/procurator, English teacher, spiritual director, and boxing coach. With a strong interest in spiritual direction and student counseling, he took a two-year sabbatical from the seminary in 1980. During this period, he earned an MA in Pastoral Counseling from the Graduate Theological Union, Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California, and certification in the supervision of Clinical Pastoral Education from the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.

In 1984, under the auspices of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, Father Eybel initiated a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) course at Bugando Medical Center in the Archdiocese of Mwanza. Over 500 pastors, sisters, seminarians and health care personnel from Tanzania and neighboring East African countries, along with a few expatriates, completed the 16-week interfaith course, which by necessity emphasized care for AIDS patients. In 2007, Father Eybel turned the CPE program over to a Tanzanian priest, and it continues to thrive today.

From his earliest years, Father Eybel built a strong relationship with the newly established Immaculate Heart Sisters of Africa, a congregation founded by the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers in partnership with the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation. This bond of friendship and support grew exponentially throughout his many years in Africa.

Over the years, Father Eybel carried out various administrative duties in the Maryknoll Tanzania Region: Continuing Education Coordinator, Maryknoll Education Department Area Representative, Orientation to Mission Coordinator (for newcomers arriving in East Africa), and Regional Council member. He maintained an abiding interest in teaching, pastoral supervision, and in developing education and ongoing formation programs suitable for East Africa.

In July 2007, Father Eybel was assigned to the US Region and the Initial Formation Department. He was appointed Rector of the Maryknoll Formation House in Chicago in 2008 and was re-appointed in January 2011.

Father Eybel was reassigned to the Africa Region in 2015 and resumed work in Tanzania. He served at Mabatini Parish in Mwanza and continued to support the CPE program at Bugando Medical Center. As we began accepting men from countries where we serve, Father Eybel provided a crucial role accompanying and screening men discerning a missionary vocation with Maryknoll. He was elected as a Chapter delegate from the Africa Region to the Fourteenth General Chapter, and served on the Africa Regional Council.

While at Transfiguration Parish in Mwanza, Tanzania, Father Eybel served as a member and chaplain for a support group of widows called “Upendo wa Wajane,” or Widows’ Love. The group of about thirty-five women cared for one another through sickness and while grieving a death. They also began a cooperative to economically support one another including providing loans for small street-side businesses and distributing profits. Father Eybel said about his work with Upendo wa Wajane, “It is such a privilege for me to participate with these wonderful women each week in their beauty and in their vulnerability.”

In September 2025, Father Eybel was assigned to the Senior Missioner Community and took up residence at the Society Center in Maryknoll, New York. He attributed his inspiration in life to his parents, a group of excellent teachers, and his wonderful sister, Joan Pancharian.

Father Eybel is survived by his sister, Joan Pancharian; his nephews, John Pancharian and Aaron Pancharian, three grandnephews, a grandniece, as well as his cousins: David Duer, Janet Smith, Tanya Valladares and Tehani Tuitele. He is predeceased by his cousin Kathryn Ann Malia Heinrich.

Wake services were held on February 3, 2026 in the Holy Spirit Chapel and the Queen of Apostles Chapel at the Maryknoll Society Center. Mass of Christian Burial followed at 11:00 a.m. and was concelebrated in the Queen of Apostles Chapel. Father Lance Nadeau was the Celebrant and homilist. Father Michael Kirwen read the biography and Father Fernand Gosselin read the Oath. Burial followed in the Maryknoll Society Cemetery with Father Lance Nadeau presiding at the graveside prayers.