Submitted by: Dan Rich

Rev. Edmund J. Murray, C.S.C.

April 14, 1907 - November 12, 1996

South Bend Tribune 11/14/1996

Rev. Edmund J. Murray, C.S.C., 89, died at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at his residence in Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind.

Rev. Murray was born on April 14, 1907, in Bridgeport, Conn., to the late John A. and Margaret Frances (McMahon) Murray.

He received his elementary education at St. Charles School in Bridgeport, and then entered Holy Cross Seminary at Notre Dame in September, 1925.

Following graduation he entered St. Joseph's Novitiate at Notre Dame, where he pronounced his first vows on July 2, 1930. He was a seminarian at Moreau Seminary and attended classes and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1934. He made his perpetual profession of religious vows on Aug. 16, 1934.

After four years of theology at Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C., Father Murray was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1938.

In 1950, he went to the National University of Ireland in Dublin, where he pursued a doctoral degree in history which he earned in 1953 from University College. During this time he assisted in Father Patrick Peyton's Family Rosary Crusade in Ireland and England.

Immediately following his ordination Father Murray taught for one year at Holy Cross Seminary, and then was chaplain at St. Joseph's Farm in Granger, Ind. for two years.

His tenure in ministry at Notre Dame began in 1941. He served as a teacher and prefect from 1941-42 and 1946-49, and was Assistant Prefect of Religion in 1949-50. Following his return from Dublin, Father Murray taught as a member of the History Department from 1954 until he was promoted to emeritus status in 1972.

With the outbreak of World War II, he entered the Army Chaplain's Corp in 1942 and served in the European theater for four years. He was discharged and returned to Notre Dame in 1946, but remained very active in the Army Reserves for another 20 years.

Often he served as a Reserve Chaplain during summer exercises at Camp McCoy, in Wisconsin, for which he received numerous letters of commendation. He served for many years as chaplain for the American Legion in the State of Indiana.

Frequent research trips took him back to Ireland and he published several books on Irish history and folklore. He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

After his retirement he taught for ten years at the Forever Learning Institute in South Bend.

Father Murray often assisted with pastoral work at St. Patrick's Parish in South Bend, and helped found the Faith, Hope, and Charity Chapel in downtown South Bend in 1975. He retired from the Chapel in 1985.

He remained active in 40 & 8, the American Legion, Veterans Groups, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of Columbus.

In 1990 his declining health required that he move from Corby Hall at Notre Dame to Holy Cross House, where he lived until his death.

Father Murray was preceded in death by all six of his brothers and sisters.

A wake service for Father Murray will be held at 7:30 p.m. today in the Chapel of Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, where a visitation will also be held at 3:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame.

Burial will follow the funeral mass in the Community Cemetery at Notre Dame.

The Hickey Funeral Home, South Bend, is in charge of arrangements.