Submitted by: Dan Rich

Rev. Wilfrid A. Menard CSC

Oct. 8, 1924 - Feb. 4, 2008

South Bend Tribune 2/6/2008
SOUTH BEND - Rev. Wilfrid A. Menard CSC, 83, died on Monday, February 4, 2008, at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN. Fr. Menard was born in Bourbonnais, IL, on October 8, 1924, to Hubert and Matilda (Odette) Menard. He attended Notre Dame Grade School in Bourbonnais for the first two years and graduated in 1938 from Saint Joseph School in Bradley, IL. After two years at Saint Patrick High School in Kankakee he transferred to Holy Cross Seminary, Notre Dame, and graduated in 1942. After his novitiate and four years at Notre Dame he entered Holy Cross College in Washington in 1947. Three years later, Fr. Menard joined the U.S. Army. He returned to Holy Cross and after a second novitiate in Jordan, MN, he made vows on August 16, 1953. He resumed studies in Washington and was ordained a priest on June 8, 1955, in Sacred Heart Church. For the first three years after ordination he served as teacher and prefect at Notre Dame. From 1958 to 1976 he served in many parts of the world as an Army Chaplain.

After Army life ended, Fr. Menard entered parish life. From 1976 - 1983 he was pastor of St. Joseph in Fountain, CO. He moved to St. Patrick in South Bend in 1983 and served there for six years. In 1989 he moved back to Colorado as pastor for St. Catherine in Burlington and St. Charles in Stratton. After one year as an associate pastor at Sacred Heart in Colorado Springs he returned to Saint Catherine-Saint Charles for two more years. In 1993 he spent a year at Holy Cross Parish in South Bend before heading north to Michigan to serve as administrator for Saint Mary in Three Oaks and Saint Agnes in Sawyer. In 1998, Fr. Menard began residing at Holy Cross Novitiate in Cascade, CO, and working in Marriage Encounter. He entered Holy Cross House on February 20, 2006. Fr. Menard was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Tilly (Odette) Menard; a sister, Dorothy (Menard) Miller; and a brother, Joseph Menard. He is survived by his brothers, Louis (Ruth) Menard and Ed (Bernice) Menard. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be held for Fr. Menard in the Chapel of Moreau Seminary, University of Notre Dame, today, February 6, from 3:30 to 9:00 p.m., with a wake service at 7:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated in Sacred Heart Basilica, Notre Dame, on Thursday, February 7, at 3:30 p.m. Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions to support the mission and ministries of the Priests of Holy Cross, Indiana Province, may be made to: Priests of Holy Cross, Indiana Province, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556.