Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....GRAEF, FRANZ June 17, 2016
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GINA BROWN rootsgirl36@gmail.com September 5, 2016, 2:22 am

News Star World - June 26, 2016
FRANZ GRAEF (MSGR)

Msgr. Franz Graef, STD, a priest of both the Alexandria and Shreveport 
dioceses, died at his home in Heidelberg, Germany on June 17, 2016. Bishop 
Michael G. Duca will celebrate a Memorial Mass for Father Graef on Wednesday, 
June 29, 2016, at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, 939 Jordan Street in 
Shreveport, Louisiana, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Father Graef's Funeral Mass and Burial were held on Friday, June 24, at the 
Jesuitenkirche in Heidelberg. Born December 6, 1930, to Aloys and Maria Graef, 
Fr. Graef entered the Collegium Canisianum as a seminarian for the Diocese of 
Alexandria and enrolled in the University of Innsbruck, Austria, earning the 
Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL). He was ordained in Innsbruck to the 
priesthood on April 6, 1957.

Following his immigration to the United States, Fr. Graef served the Alexandria 
Parishes of Our Lady of Prompt Succor and St. Rita before becoming a professor 
at Maryhill Seminary in Pineville, LA during the early 1960s. After earning his 
Doctorate in Sacred Theology, Fr. Graef returned to teaching at Notre Dame 
Seminary in New Orleans, LA.

Subsequent assignments included Director of Religious Education and Adult 
Education for the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport, Director of Continuing 
Clergy Education, Professor in the Diocese of Shreveport's Greco Institute, and 
Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Monroe. He returned to Notre Dame 
Seminary as Professor and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree at 
the end of his tenure. There are a host of priests, bishops and one archbishop 
who will readily attest that Fr. Graef was the most influential professor of 
their seminary training.

Father Graef was named as Pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Shreveport in 1999, 
where he served for seven years. He retired in 2006 to Jonesboro, LA, where he 
assisted as Sacramental Minister at St. Lucy Church in Hodge, LA until his 
death. Additional responsibilities he accepted at various times for the diocese 
were Dean of the Monroe Deanery, Chair of the Presbyteral Council, Judge in the 
Diocesan Tribunal, Censor for the Diocese and for the Archdiocese of New 
Orleans, Church Vocations Board and the Diocesan College of Consultors. Named 
an Honorary Prelate of the Holy Father with the title of Reverend Monsignor in 
1989, most knew that he vastly preferred the title, "Father Graef" throughout 
his years of faithful service to the people of God.

Fr. Graef is survived by his sisters, Hildegard Hufendiek, Monika Jutt, 
Mechthilde Daub; and his brother, Klaus Graef. He leaves ten nieces and nephews 
and eighteen great-nieces and great-nephews to cherish his memory.

Fr. Graef suggested that those wishing to make memorial contributions in his 
honor please consider the following, Catholic Charities of North Louisiana, 331 
E. 71st St., Shreveport, LA 71106, His Hands Ministry, 500 South Cooper Ave., 
Jonesboro, LA 71251, or the charity of the donor's choice .

Rose-Neath Funeral Home

Shreveport, LA 

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