BODENSCHATZ - Father Ronald, T.O.R., 90, of Saint Francis Friary, Loretto, died on the evening of May 23, 2007, at the Friary. Born March 18, 1917, in Summerhill, son of late Edward and Bernadine (Schrift) Bodenschatz. Preceded in death by a sister, Mary Virginia Boxler, and sister-in-law, Margaret Bodenschatz. Survived by a brother, Edward, Johnstown; sisters, Margaret Louise Schrift, Cresson, and Florence Cowan, and husband, H. Richard, Johnstown; brother-in-law, Regis Boxler, Johnstown; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and great-grandnieces and nephews and his Franciscan family.
A graduate of Bishop McCort High School, Father entered the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis as a novice in 1941. He professed his first vows in 1942 and his solemn vows in 1945. He graduated from Saint Francis University in 1945 and completed theological studies a Saint Francis Seminary in 1949. He was ordained to the Priesthood in 1949 at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., by the late Bishop John McNamara. Father Ronald served his Francisian community as director of postulants and director of religious brothers in Loretto from 1949 to 1956. He was treasure of the Sacred Heart Province from 1951 to 1953, treasurer of Mount Assisi Friary from 1951 to 1956, treasurer of Saint Francis University from 1956 to 1959 and treasurer of Saint Francis Prep School in Spring Grove from 1959 to 1966. He was also religious superior of Saint Francis Friary in Spring Grove from 1959 to 1966. From 1966 to 1968, he was director of clerics and vicar relious superior at Saint Francis Seminary, Loretto, was a member of the Provinical Council from 1966 to 1969, and from 1967 to 1973, served as a treasurer and administrator at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
In the parish ministry, Father Ronald was pastor of Saint Ann Church in Geddes, S. D., from 1972 to 1976 and again from 1982 to 1985; pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Spring Grove from 1985 to 1990; and pastor of Saint Florence Mission in Michigan from 1990 to 1992. From 1992 to the time of his death, Father was a member of Saint Francis Friary, Loretto. From 1976 to 1982 and fro 1992 to present, Father Ronald directed the restoration and care on the Sunken Gardens on the grounds of Saint Francis Friary, the former Charles Schwab estate. Frequently, he would pause from his work to greet visitors, to share his love of nature, and to help them appreciate the beauty of the gardens. He was the director of the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in the gardens and, in 1966, created there a shrine to Our Lady of Loretto. Years ago, he also designed and constructed the shrine to Saint Joseph the Worker on the campus of Saint Francis University.
Friends will be received at the Chapel of the Immaculate on the campus of Saint Francis University on Sunday, May 27, from 2 p.m. until the Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 28, at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, with the Very Rev. Christian R. Oravec, T.O.R., Minister Provincial, as principal celebrant. Committal will be held at the Francian Community cemetery on the University campus immediately after the Mass. Arrangements by Gibbons Funeral Home, 301 Church Street, Gallitzin.
A graduate of Bishop McCort High School, Father entered the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis as a novice in 1941. He professed his first vows in 1942 and his solemn vows in 1945. He graduated from Saint Francis University in 1945 and completed theological studies a Saint Francis Seminary in 1949. He was ordained to the Priesthood in 1949 at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., by the late Bishop John McNamara. Father Ronald served his Francisian community as director of postulants and director of religious brothers in Loretto from 1949 to 1956. He was treasure of the Sacred Heart Province from 1951 to 1953, treasurer of Mount Assisi Friary from 1951 to 1956, treasurer of Saint Francis University from 1956 to 1959 and treasurer of Saint Francis Prep School in Spring Grove from 1959 to 1966. He was also religious superior of Saint Francis Friary in Spring Grove from 1959 to 1966. From 1966 to 1968, he was director of clerics and vicar relious superior at Saint Francis Seminary, Loretto, was a member of the Provinical Council from 1966 to 1969, and from 1967 to 1973, served as a treasurer and administrator at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
In the parish ministry, Father Ronald was pastor of Saint Ann Church in Geddes, S. D., from 1972 to 1976 and again from 1982 to 1985; pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Spring Grove from 1985 to 1990; and pastor of Saint Florence Mission in Michigan from 1990 to 1992. From 1992 to the time of his death, Father was a member of Saint Francis Friary, Loretto. From 1976 to 1982 and fro 1992 to present, Father Ronald directed the restoration and care on the Sunken Gardens on the grounds of Saint Francis Friary, the former Charles Schwab estate. Frequently, he would pause from his work to greet visitors, to share his love of nature, and to help them appreciate the beauty of the gardens. He was the director of the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in the gardens and, in 1966, created there a shrine to Our Lady of Loretto. Years ago, he also designed and constructed the shrine to Saint Joseph the Worker on the campus of Saint Francis University.
Friends will be received at the Chapel of the Immaculate on the campus of Saint Francis University on Sunday, May 27, from 2 p.m. until the Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 28, at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, with the Very Rev. Christian R. Oravec, T.O.R., Minister Provincial, as principal celebrant. Committal will be held at the Francian Community cemetery on the University campus immediately after the Mass. Arrangements by Gibbons Funeral Home, 301 Church Street, Gallitzin.
BODENSCHATZ - Father Ronald, T.O.R., 90, of Saint Francis Friary, Loretto, died on the evening of May 23, 2007, at the Friary. Born March 18, 1917, in Summerhill, son of late Edward and Bernadine (Schrift) Bodenschatz. Preceded in death by a sister, Mary Virginia Boxler, and sister-in-law, Margaret Bodenschatz. Survived by a brother, Edward, Johnstown; sisters, Margaret Louise Schrift, Cresson, and Florence Cowan, and husband, H. Richard, Johnstown; brother-in-law, Regis Boxler, Johnstown; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and great-grandnieces and nephews and his Franciscan family.
A graduate of Bishop McCort High School, Father entered the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis as a novice in 1941. He professed his first vows in 1942 and his solemn vows in 1945. He graduated from Saint Francis University in 1945 and completed theological studies a Saint Francis Seminary in 1949. He was ordained to the Priesthood in 1949 at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., by the late Bishop John McNamara. Father Ronald served his Francisian community as director of postulants and director of religious brothers in Loretto from 1949 to 1956. He was treasure of the Sacred Heart Province from 1951 to 1953, treasurer of Mount Assisi Friary from 1951 to 1956, treasurer of Saint Francis University from 1956 to 1959 and treasurer of Saint Francis Prep School in Spring Grove from 1959 to 1966. He was also religious superior of Saint Francis Friary in Spring Grove from 1959 to 1966. From 1966 to 1968, he was director of clerics and vicar relious superior at Saint Francis Seminary, Loretto, was a member of the Provinical Council from 1966 to 1969, and from 1967 to 1973, served as a treasurer and administrator at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
In the parish ministry, Father Ronald was pastor of Saint Ann Church in Geddes, S. D., from 1972 to 1976 and again from 1982 to 1985; pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Spring Grove from 1985 to 1990; and pastor of Saint Florence Mission in Michigan from 1990 to 1992. From 1992 to the time of his death, Father was a member of Saint Francis Friary, Loretto. From 1976 to 1982 and fro 1992 to present, Father Ronald directed the restoration and care on the Sunken Gardens on the grounds of Saint Francis Friary, the former Charles Schwab estate. Frequently, he would pause from his work to greet visitors, to share his love of nature, and to help them appreciate the beauty of the gardens. He was the director of the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in the gardens and, in 1966, created there a shrine to Our Lady of Loretto. Years ago, he also designed and constructed the shrine to Saint Joseph the Worker on the campus of Saint Francis University.
Friends will be received at the Chapel of the Immaculate on the campus of Saint Francis University on Sunday, May 27, from 2 p.m. until the Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 28, at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, with the Very Rev. Christian R. Oravec, T.O.R., Minister Provincial, as principal celebrant. Committal will be held at the Francian Community cemetery on the University campus immediately after the Mass. Arrangements by Gibbons Funeral Home, 301 Church Street, Gallitzin.
A graduate of Bishop McCort High School, Father entered the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis as a novice in 1941. He professed his first vows in 1942 and his solemn vows in 1945. He graduated from Saint Francis University in 1945 and completed theological studies a Saint Francis Seminary in 1949. He was ordained to the Priesthood in 1949 at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., by the late Bishop John McNamara. Father Ronald served his Francisian community as director of postulants and director of religious brothers in Loretto from 1949 to 1956. He was treasure of the Sacred Heart Province from 1951 to 1953, treasurer of Mount Assisi Friary from 1951 to 1956, treasurer of Saint Francis University from 1956 to 1959 and treasurer of Saint Francis Prep School in Spring Grove from 1959 to 1966. He was also religious superior of Saint Francis Friary in Spring Grove from 1959 to 1966. From 1966 to 1968, he was director of clerics and vicar relious superior at Saint Francis Seminary, Loretto, was a member of the Provinical Council from 1966 to 1969, and from 1967 to 1973, served as a treasurer and administrator at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
In the parish ministry, Father Ronald was pastor of Saint Ann Church in Geddes, S. D., from 1972 to 1976 and again from 1982 to 1985; pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Spring Grove from 1985 to 1990; and pastor of Saint Florence Mission in Michigan from 1990 to 1992. From 1992 to the time of his death, Father was a member of Saint Francis Friary, Loretto. From 1976 to 1982 and fro 1992 to present, Father Ronald directed the restoration and care on the Sunken Gardens on the grounds of Saint Francis Friary, the former Charles Schwab estate. Frequently, he would pause from his work to greet visitors, to share his love of nature, and to help them appreciate the beauty of the gardens. He was the director of the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in the gardens and, in 1966, created there a shrine to Our Lady of Loretto. Years ago, he also designed and constructed the shrine to Saint Joseph the Worker on the campus of Saint Francis University.
Friends will be received at the Chapel of the Immaculate on the campus of Saint Francis University on Sunday, May 27, from 2 p.m. until the Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 28, at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, with the Very Rev. Christian R. Oravec, T.O.R., Minister Provincial, as principal celebrant. Committal will be held at the Francian Community cemetery on the University campus immediately after the Mass. Arrangements by Gibbons Funeral Home, 301 Church Street, Gallitzin.
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