Obituaries:  George W. Martinez, Sabine Parish       M-635
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Jul 2, 1997
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net




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Msgr. George W. Martinez

  A Vigil Wake Service for Msgr. George W. Martinez, 77, of
Monroe, was held Wednesday, June 25, at 7 p.m., at Our Lady of
Fatima Catholic Church in Monroe, with Father John Kennedy,
Father J. Robert Inzina, and Father Joseph Puthupally presiding.
The Rosary was held immediately after the Wake service.

  A Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, June 26, at 10:30
a.m., at St. Matthew Catholic Church, with the Most Rev. William
B. Friend, D. D. Bishop of Shreveport, as Celebrant. Priests of
the Diocese of Shreveport, Diocese of Alexandria, and other
areas, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Friend.

  A second Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, June 26, at
5 p.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Zwolle, with Father
David Richter as Celebrant.

  A Rite of Committal, with Final Commendation was at St. Joseph
Catholic Cemetery in Zwolle, following the second Mass.

  Arrangements were under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home,
Sterlington Road in Monroe.

  Msgr. Martinez was a native of Zwolle, and was educated in
Zwolle, at the Convent School of the Sisters of Divine
Providence. He completed his high school education at Zwolle High
School, and immediately thereafter, was accepted as a seminarian.

  Msgr. Martinez attended St. Joseph Minor Seminary at St.
Benedict near Covington, and completed his theological studies at
Notre Dame Major Seminary in New Orleans. He was ordained to Holy
Priesthood at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Alexandria,
September 15, 1946.

  His first assignment as a priest was as assistant pastor, St.
Joseph Catholic Church in Marksville. He went to Monroe in
January, 1948, as assistant to the late Msgr. John C. Marsh, at
St. Matthew Catholic Church. Msgr. Martinez was then assigned to
St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church in Echo, first as
administrator, then as pastor. In December, 1952, he was assigned
to organize and pastor in the newly created parish of Our Lady of
Fatima in Monroe. Under his leadership, Our Lady Fatima Catholic
Church, school, rectory, and convent, were built. He served at
Our Lady of Fatima until his assignment to the pastorate of St.
Matthew Catholic Church in Monroe in March, 1976.

  Msgr. Martinez also served as chaplain for several other
organizations, which included the Catholic Daughters of Americas,
the Knights of Columbus Council 1337, and St. Joseph Nursing
Home.

  Msgr. Martinez is survived by one sister, Teresa M. Martinez of
Creole; two brothers, Joseph Martinez of Baton Rouge, and Steve
Martinez of St. Louis, Mo.; and a host of nieces and nephews.

  Priests of Diocese of Shreveport served as pallbearers.

  Memorials may be made to the Msgr. George W. Martinez Memorial
Renovation and Restoration Fund of St. Matthew Catholic Church,
121 Jackson St., Monroe, La. 71201, Msgr. George W. Martinez
Scholarship Fund of St. Frederick High School, 3300 Westminster
Ave., Monroe, La., 71201, or your favorite charity.

  Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe, La.