Father Paul A. Huber, S.J., a legendary Jesuit priest, entered eternal life at the Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan, at the age of 96. He retired there in 2005 at the age of 93. Shortly after his ordination in 1945, he was assigned to teach at University of Detroit High School. During his summers he helped other ministries: in 1946 he assisted with parish work at Holy Family Church in Chicago and in 1948 he worked at Cook County Hospital. In 1951 he was assigned to St. Xavier Church in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained for the next 53 years, hearing confessions, conducting Mass, and visiting the sick as associate pastor. At St. Xavier he celebrated Mass every day, as well as once a month at the Hamilton County Justice Center.

A native of Bellevue, Kentucky, Father Huber attended Sacred Heart grade school and St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. He was a student at Xavier University for one year before deciding to join the Jesuits. In 1931, he entered the Jesuit order in Milford. During his studies to become a priest, Father Huber earned a bachelor's degree in 1936 and a master's degree in English in 1939, both at West Baden College, Indiana. Prior to his ordination, he taught at St. Xavier High School from 1939 to 1942. He was ordained a priest on June 13, 1945, in West Baden.

An excellent listener, Fr. Huber was instrumental in building and continuing the reputation of the St. Francis Xavier Church confessional before the years of psychotherapy. "Parish ministry was his niche," said St. Francis Xavier Pastor Fr. Eric Knapp, S.J. "He conducted a quality ministry to the homeless, outcasts, battered women, and prisoners. People felt loved in his presence. He was just a walking emissary of compassion."

Parishioner Dave Thelen joined St. Francis Xavier Church in 1969 because of Fr. Huber's example of quiet humility. As their family priest, Fr. Huber lived long enough to baptize Thelen's grandchildren. "He was a part of our family and a very holy man," Thelen commented. "I have an urge to pray to him rather than for him."

Father Joe Schell, SJ, became friends with Father Huber when they joined the Jesuits in 1931, training side-by-side for the first seven years of their priestly formation. After many years in separate ministries, the two reunited at Colombiere Center in 2005 for their final mission, to pray for the church and the Society of Jesus. "Paul didn't like to be fussed over," said Father Schell. "Recently, we were at a special event, and I tried to brush something off his mouth. He pushed my hand away and said, ‘I'm not that far gone!' I'm sure he's in heaven now, brushing away the angels while they try to adjust his halo. If it were my choice I would canonize him. He was a saint."

Visitation: Colombiere Center, Clarkston, Michigan,
Saturday, February 7, 2008.

Mass of Christian Burial: St. Francis Xavier Church on February. 5, 2008.

Memorial gifts may be made to The Father Paul Huber, SJ, Fund for Outreach Programs, St. Francis Xavier Church, 607 Sycamore St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-2512.

Father Huber's comments on his 75 years as a Jesuit in May 2006, in Detroit.

"Religious life as a whole has been a satisfying experience. My fellow Jesuits, again as a whole, especially superiors, have been very supportive. Fifty years have been spent in a downtown parish in Cincinnati. I tried to serve those parishioners the best that I could and they showed their appreciation. I am convinced that God has been very good to me by giving me a vocation to the religious life. PS: My life did have rough spots, too!"∼age 96