Submitted by: Dan Rich

Rev. Arthur M. Schoenfeldt, CSC

July 30, 1930 - Dec. 9, 2007

South Bend Tribune 12/12/2007
SOUTH BEND - Rev. Arthur M. Schoenfeldt, CSC, 77, passed away on December 9, 2007, in Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, surrounded by his brothers in community and the wonderful nursing staff who took such good care of him. Arthur Schoenfeldt Jr. was born on July 30, 1930, in Portland, OR, to Arthur Schoenfeldt Sr. and Dorothy A. (Dunne) Schoenfeldt. He received his elementary education at St. Mary Magdalene and St. Mary Cathedral Schools. Fr. Art first came into contact with Holy Cross as a freshman at Columbia Prep in Portland and graduated in 1948. He received his undergraduate education at Santa Clara University in California, earning an English degree in 1952.

Desiring to become a Holy Cross priest, he entered Sacred Heart Novitiate in Jordan, MN, that August and made first profession of vows one year later on August 16, 1953. He spent the next two years at Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, preparing for theological studies. In the summer of 1959, Fr. Art began his graduate studies in theology at Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C. On May 23, 1959, he was ordained a priest in St. Mary's Cathedral in Portland, OR, his home town. His first year as a priest was spent at the University of Notre Dame in the pastoral apprenticeship program. The next year he became Assistant Prefect for Religion at Notre Dame, staying there until 1962. That summer Fr. Art moved back West to serve as chaplain at St. Francis High School, Mountain View, CA. There he worked with the Holy Cross Brothers and the students for 15 years.

In 1977 he returned to Notre Dame and participated in the Institute for Clergy Education. The next year he moved back to Portland to assist at the University. From 1978 until the summer of 2007, with the exception of a sabbatical year in 1984-85, he served the University of Portland, its students, faculty and staff in a variety of ways. Even when retired from active ministry, he was known and loved by faculty and generations of Portland students. In his own gentle way, whether "working" the student Commons at dinner time, or stopping to talk to a passing coed on the quad, "Padre" was always a living witness to Christ's compassion and a sign of hope to others. More than one student has wondered at his incredible capacity to know seemingly everyone on campus by name and to remember small details from their last conversation. Everyone knows in the depth of his heart that when you spoke to Fr. Art, he was truly listening. When school got hectic, exams started crashing in, and life seemed unmanageable, many a student found true comfort in Padre's calming demeanor, his warm and engaging smile and his endless assurance that, in the end, all will be well. It was a day of sadness for the Portland community - and the whole university - when Fr. Schoenfeldt moved to Holy Cross House because of declining health. Padre was a great listener, comforter, confidant, source of encouragement and friend. Fr. Arthur Schoenfeldt was a wonderfully gentle and kind priest. His family, students, residents and friends deeply mourn his loss and are ever thankful for his life. Fr. Schoenfeldt was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Dorothy (Dunne) Schoenfeldt. He is survived by his sister, Suzanne Fields.

Viewing for Fr. Schoenfeldt will be held in the chapel of Moreau Seminary, University of Notre Dame, today, Dec. 12th, from 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a wake service at 7:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will be Thursday, Dec. 13th, at 3:30 p.m. in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame. Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions to support the mission and the 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.