Submitted by: Dan Rich
Rev. Dacian Bluma, OFM
Sept. 29, 1922 - Aug. 12, 2007
South Bend Tribune 8/13/2007
MISHAWAKA - Rev. Dacian Bluma, OFM, 84, of St. Francis
Convent in Mishawaka, passed away Sunday morning in Our Lady of
Angels Convent.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at
St. Francis Convent, where a prayer service will be at 7 p.m.
Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Francis with an
additional Mass and burial taking place Thursday at Pulaski,
Wisconsin. Arrangements have been entrusted to Thallemer,
Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, Mishawaka.
MISHAWAKA - Francis Bluma was born in
Green Bay, Wisconsin where he attended St. Mary of the Angels
elementary school. He began his secondary education at East High
School in Green Bay but graduated from St. Bonaventure High
School & Minor Seminary in Sturtevant, Wisconsin in 1941.
Called to the religious life and priesthood, he entered the
novitiate of the Franciscan Order (Assumption Province) in
Pulaski, Wisconsin receiving the name "Dacian."
Following his profession of vows, Dacian began the study of
philosophy at St. Francis College in Burlington, Wisconsin where
he also pronounced solemn vows in August, 1945. His theology
program commenced at Lourdes Seminary, Cedar Lake, Indiana but
was completed at St. Mary of the Angels in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
He was ordained on June 11, 1949, by Bishop
Stanislaus V. Bona. Fr. Dacian's first assignment after
ordination was to Assumption Friary in Pulaski, Wisconsin as
assistant provincial librarian. In 1951, he was sent to St.
Francis College in Burlington to teach Latin and fulfill the
duties as friary librarian and chronicler while acting as
spiritual director to the clerics. With increasing vocations to
the province, Fr. Dacian was selected for graduate studies at the
Antonianum in Rome, Italy. Over the next three years (1954-7), he
received a licentiate and doctorate in sacred theology. Upon his
return, he was assigned to Queen of Peace Friary in Lake Geneva,
Wisconsin as assistant director of novices. The slow pace of the
novitiate enabled Fr. Dacian to conduct retreats for various
congregations of religious Sisters. His preaching of the Gospel
message made him a much sought-after retreat master. He was also
appointed provincial historian (1958-63), compiling and editing a
history of the province that was published in 1966.
Being the gift that he was to the
fraternity, Fr. Dacian was called, at the Provincial Chapter in
1963, to serve on the provincial council. In the post-capitular
meeting, he was appointed to the faculty at the province's
theologate, Christ the King Seminary in West Chicago, Illinois to
be the director of formation to the theology students. With the
Chapter of 1966, youth, energy and vision were deemed more
"in" than age and experience. At 44, Fr. Dacian was
elected provincial minister of the province's some 425 friars.
Completing his term of office in 1972, Fr. Dacian was appointed
guardian of the House of Prayer in Cedar Lake, Indiana. In 1977,
he was appointed by the Curia in Rome to serve as General
Visitator to the Province of the Holy Spirit in Australia. He
spent nine months visiting with the friars in the land "Down
Under." In 1979, Fr. Dacian was appointed assistant pastor
at St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with
the understanding that in six months he would assume the
responsibilities of director of novices. This he did... for the
next seven years. In 1986, at the age of 64, Fr. Dacian requested
assignment as a missionary to Africa. Stepping outside his
Americanism, foregoing its comforts and security and leaving
behind his fears and anxieties, Fr. Dacian made his way to the
village of Subukia in Kenya. There he continued his work of the
previous seven years, forming the African mind and heart
according to that of St. Francis for yet another seven years.
Fr. Dacian returned to the States in 1993
and, after a period of readjustment, accepted assignment to the
retreat staff at St. Francis Retreat Center in Burlington,
Wisconsin. In 2000, he then accepted a chaplaincy with the
Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Mishawaka,
Indiana. For the next eight years he shared with the sisters his
many gifts and talents as preacher, teacher, confessor, spiritual
director and formator. Despite his busy schedule, occasional
physical discomfort and advanced years, he found the time and
space to nurture his contemplative side... where he found peace,
faith and the strength to keep working in the vineyard of the
Lord. Having completed that which was given him to do, God saw
fit to call His faithful servant to his heavenly home on August
12, 2007. Fr. Dacian ended his earthly sojourn in the 85th year
of his life, the 65th of his religious profession and the 57th of
his priesthood. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward
and Juliana (Rozmiarek) Bluma. He is survived by his brothers,
James Bluma, CSC, Bertrand (Dawn) of DeForest, WI, and Len (Rita)
of Green Valley, AZ; his sisters, Helen LeCaptain of New Franken,
WI, Esther Arvey of Clintonville, WI, and Carolyn Fonder of
DePere, WI; nieces, nephews, cousins; and his brother friars of
the Assumption BVM Province.
A wake service was held in the Chapel of the
Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Mishawaka,
Indiana on Monday, August 13 at 7 p.m. and where a Memorial Mass
will be held today (Tuesday) at 11:00 a.m. The Mass of Christian
Burial will be celebrated in Assumption BVM Church in Pulaski,
Wisconsin on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. There will be a viewing in
the Church prior to the Mass from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Interment will
follow in the provincial cemetery. Arrangements are by Thallemer,
Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, Mishawaka and Marnocha Funeral
Home, Pulaski. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful
departed rest in peace. Amen.