Submitted by: Dan Rich

Rev. Frederick F. Barr, CSC

Sept. 17, 1919 - Oct. 10, 2004

South Bend Tribune 10/13/2004

Rev. Frederick F. Barr, CSC, 85, passed away on Sunday morning, Oct. 10, in Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind., after suffering a heart attack. Father Barr was born in Peoria, Ill., on Sept. 17, 1919, to the late Benjamin and Mary (King) Barr. He attended public schools in Peoria and graduated from Peoria Manual High School in January 1937. After high school, Father Barr worked at a Chicago Woolworth store until 1941 when he was drafted by the United States Army. After basic training, he was assigned to the Third Infantry Division and later to the Air Gunnery School in Kingman, Ariz.

After serving his country for four years, Father Barr took advantage of the GI Bill to go to college. He applied to and was accepted at the University of Notre Dame and shortly thereafter applied to the Holy Cross Vocations. Father Barr was accepted and entered the Sacred Heart Novitiate, South Bend, Ind., on Aug. 15, 1946, and made first vows one year later on Aug. 16, 1947. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1950.

After four years of theology at Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C., he was ordained at Sacred Heart Church on June 9, 1954, by Bishop Leo Pursley. The first three years of his priestly ministry he served at Notre Dame as prefect and teacher. In 1957 he directed the Old College program before moving to St. Joseph Hall as rector. He earned a master's degree in religious studies in 1959 from the University of Notre Dame and in 1961 moved back to campus as teacher and prefect. In 1963, Fr. Barr assisted at St. Mary's Cathedral in Austin, Texas. One year later he moved to the University of Portland to teach and direct the Campus Ministry program until 1977 when he served as chaplain to the Salzburg, Austria, program for one year. After serving in campus ministry at the Oregon College of Education in Monmouth until 1981, he assisted at St. Elizabeth parish in Portland, Ore., until 1984 when he returned to Salzburg, Austria, for one year.

In 1986, after a year of sabbatical, he returned to the University of Portland before assisting at St. Victor parish in Los Angeles, Calif., from 1987 to 1990. From 1990 to July 2004, this kind and gentle man of God has been a fixture on the Bluff as a popular and much beloved spiritual director, confessor and great community man. In July 2004, Father Barr took up residence at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind.

Viewing will be held for Father Barr in the chapel of Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, today, Oct. 13, from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a wake service at 7:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 3:30 p.m. The Kaniewski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.