South Bend Tribune
10/13/2002
REV. RAYMOND F.
COUR
02/22/1915 -
10/10/2002
The Reverend Raymond F. Cour,
C.S.C., 87, died at 9:40 a.m. on Thursday October 10, in Holy Cross House, Notre
Dame, Ind.
Father Cour was born on February
22, 1915, in Springfield, Ill., to the late Raymond F. and Frances GREELEY
Cour. He attended St. Joseph Grade School in Springfield and received his
high school education at Holy Cross Seminary, Notre Dame, graduating in
1932. In July of that same year he entered St. Novitiate, Notre Dame,
where on year later, on July 2, 1933, he pronounced his first vows. On
August 16, 1936, he pronounced his perpetual vows in Sacred Heart Church, Notre
Dame.
In 1937 he graduated from the
University of Notre Dame and began his theological studies at Holy Cross College
in Washington D.C. On June 15, 1941, he was ordained to the priesthood at
Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, by the Most Revered John F. NOLL, Bishop of
Fort Wayne.
Following ordination he began a
long and faithful service as an educator at Notre Dame. His first assignment was
to teach at Holy Cross Seminary and at the same time he earned a master's degree
in political science at Notre Dame in 1943.
In 1945 he began teaching at the
University of Notre Dame and perfecting in the residence halls.
In 1951 he was sent to earn his
doctorate in political science at the University of Chicago which he received in
1952. He returned to the University of Notre Dame where he taught in the
Department of Political Science until his retirement in
1994.
Father Cour took on other
responsibilities along with his teaching. For five years, from 1961 to 1966, he
served as the superior ofMoreau Seminary. Following those Vatican II years
of change in the church, he became chaplain at St. Mary's College for two years
before returning to Corby Hall at Notre Dame.
Father Cour also served in many
pastoral roles. He was chaplain to the Holy Cross Brothers at Dujarie House for
many years, assisted at St. Stanislaus Parish on weekends, and most recently
served as the team leader of priests who provided sacramental service at the
Faith, Hope and Charity Chapel in Downtown South Bend.
Poor health in the Fall of 2001
forced him to reluctantly admit he could no longer carry on his responsibility.
With the dignity of a humble servant he relinquished the ministry of the
downtown chapel to others.
Father Cour was a quiet and
reserved gentleman. He had a phenomenal memory of historical facts and people of
the community which he could recall with absolute precision. In the terms
used in a previous day in the religious life, he practiced the art of "regular
discipline" with an uncommon dedication.
He was generous in his service and
always fair, kind, diligent and thorough. He exuded a quiet and respectful
charity.
Father Cour was preceded in death
by his parents' three brothers, William, James and Robert; and by two nephews
and one niece.
He is survived by his sisters,
Mrs. Mary Rita (Lawrence) DINEEN of Springfield, Ill., and Sister Mary Celeste,
O.S.U., of DeSoto, Mo.; and a brother, Edward (Irene) Cour of South Bend.
He is further survived by nieces and nephews, Margaret (Michael) MURPHY of
Rockville, Md., Brendan (Gloria) DINEEN of Galway, Ireland, Martin (Josephine)
DINEEN of Revere, Mass., Mary Rita DINEEN of Springfield. William (Regina) Cour
of Ashburn, Va., Celeste (Charles) CURRAN of Chesterfield, Mo., Michelle Cour of
Kansas City, James (Susan) Cour of Highland Park, Ill., Mary Sue (Michele ADAMS
of Rochester, Ill., James (Jamie) Cour of Springfield and Bernadetta (Roland)
MARR of Springfield.
A wake service will be held for
Father Cour on Monday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Moreau Seminary,
Notre Dame. Visitation will take place in the seminary chapel from 3:30 p.m.
until the time of services. The funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be
celebrated on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 3:30 p.m. in the Basilica of the Sacred
Heart, Notre Dame. Burial will follow in the community cemetery at Notre
Dame.
The Kaniewski Funeral Home is in
charge of arrangements.