Submitted by: Dan Rich

Fr. Charles Houser, CSC

Sept. 10, 1919 - Dec. 22, 1997

South Bend Tribune 1/13/1998

A memorial Mass will be celebrated for Father Charles Houser, CSC, 78, at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, Ind. Rev. Robert Hoffman, CSC, will preside and Rev. William Dorwart, CSC, Provincial Superior of the Indiana Province of Holy Cross, will preach the homily. Father Houser was born on Sept. 10, 1919, to the late Frederick and Katherine (Murren) Houser of Youngstown, Ohio.

He made his first profession on Sept. 21, 1938, and his final profession on Sept. 21, 1941.

Following his ordination on June 24, 1946, Father Houser worked in Bangladesh (then India) for 51 years in various parishes and administrative posts. He had just completed 10 years of service in Mymensingh Diocese as Vicar General, then spiritual director of the diocesan seminary at Jalchatra.

Father Houser died on Dec. 22, 1997, in Bangladesh at the Rampura Holy Cross Scholasticate, Dhaka. He had only just begun his new assignment there as spiritual director on the day previous to his death.

His brother, Rev. Joseph Houser, CSC, died on June 25, 1997. He is survived by his sisters, Sr. Rose Anita and Sr. Rita, both Sisters of the Holy Cross at St. Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind.

A funeral Mass and burial was held on Dec. 23, 1997, at the Holy Rosary Church and Cemetery at Tejgaon, Dhaka. Archbishop Michael Rozario presided and Bishop Francis Gomes preached the homily.