Msgr. Armand F. Girard, 83, of Manhattan, died Wednesday morning, January 5, 2005, at the St. Joseph Village in Manhattan.
He was born on April 26, 1921, in Aurora, Kansas, one of eight children born to Leon and Blanche (Desilet) Girard. He grew up in a home filled with love for God, family and others. It was here that his vocation to the priesthood was fostered.
His studies for the priesthood took him to St. Benedict's College in Atchison, the St. Louis Preparatory Seminary, and Kenrick Seminary also in St. Louis. He was ordained June 10, 1945, in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina. Immediately after ordination he was sent to the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. where in two years, he obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law.
His first assignment was at Sacred Heart Cathedral in 1947. Four years later he was made pro-Chancellor of the Diocese and held that position until 1954 when he was assigned pastor of SS. Peter and Paul parish in Clay Center where he supervised the building of a new parish hall and fostered enlargement of the church, developing its sanctuary and adjacent areas.
In 1959, he was appointed as the first pastor of St. Mary Queen of the Universe in Salina, where he was instrumental in enlarging the St. Mary's grade school and in the construction of a rectory and convent. His parish also helped build the inter-parochial high school.
It was at this time, he was appointed Vicar General, a position he held from 1959-1983 under Bishops F.W. Freking, C.J. Vogel and Daniel Kucera.
Msgr. Girard visited Rome and attended some sessions of the Second Vatican Council. On September 21, 1967, he was installed as first pastor of the newly established Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. He also served as a member of the Fort Hays Catholic Campus Center Development Committee and helped arrange for purchase of Catholic Campus Center property.
Msgr. Girard was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Norton on June 18, 1975. In each parish he served, he became involved in both church and community affairs. A lasting tribute to his ministry in the Norton community is the existence of several college scholarships for young people of the parish. He was chaplain for the Catholic residents at Norton State Hospital and established the R.E.A.C.H. program for the residents. He also served on the Norton State Hospital Citizen Advisory Committee during his ten-year stay. He was a Board member of the Valley Hope project and is an Emeritus member to this day. He was also interested in providing railroad facilities to the community. It was in Norton that he celebrated his 40th jubilee.
Msgr. Girard's next assignment was in Goodland in 1985, when he was pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish. Here he continued the same caliber of parochial solicitude and development that characterized all his assignments in the Salina Diocese. He was a member of the Goodland Chamber of Commerce and was known and appreciated for his efforts with the Ministerial Alliance.
On July 1, 1995, Msgr. Girard announced his retirement as he was approaching his fifty-year mark of ordination as a priest of the Salina Diocese. Following his retirement he took up residence at St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center adjacent to Kansas State University in Manhattan. For the past eight years, he has been a contract priest for Fort Riley.
Early in his life, Msgr. Girard joined the Knights of Columbus, and from 1976 to 1978 was State Chaplain of the Catholic Men's Organization. He has served at various times on college and hospital boards of directors. Within the Diocese of Salina, he has held positions on the Marriage Tribunal. In addition to his duties as Vicar General were assignments to the Diocesan Board of Consultors, membership on the Priest's Senate and the Diocesan Pastoral Council, and the Consultive Board of Marymount College in Salina.
Msgr. Girard is survived by one sister and by numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by twin brothers: Alpha and Alphonse Girard, by another brother: Jean Paul Girard and by three sisters: Aurelia and Madeline Girard who died in infancy and Marie Letourneau.
Obituary courtesy of Lady in Black.
He was born on April 26, 1921, in Aurora, Kansas, one of eight children born to Leon and Blanche (Desilet) Girard. He grew up in a home filled with love for God, family and others. It was here that his vocation to the priesthood was fostered.
His studies for the priesthood took him to St. Benedict's College in Atchison, the St. Louis Preparatory Seminary, and Kenrick Seminary also in St. Louis. He was ordained June 10, 1945, in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina. Immediately after ordination he was sent to the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. where in two years, he obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law.
His first assignment was at Sacred Heart Cathedral in 1947. Four years later he was made pro-Chancellor of the Diocese and held that position until 1954 when he was assigned pastor of SS. Peter and Paul parish in Clay Center where he supervised the building of a new parish hall and fostered enlargement of the church, developing its sanctuary and adjacent areas.
In 1959, he was appointed as the first pastor of St. Mary Queen of the Universe in Salina, where he was instrumental in enlarging the St. Mary's grade school and in the construction of a rectory and convent. His parish also helped build the inter-parochial high school.
It was at this time, he was appointed Vicar General, a position he held from 1959-1983 under Bishops F.W. Freking, C.J. Vogel and Daniel Kucera.
Msgr. Girard visited Rome and attended some sessions of the Second Vatican Council. On September 21, 1967, he was installed as first pastor of the newly established Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. He also served as a member of the Fort Hays Catholic Campus Center Development Committee and helped arrange for purchase of Catholic Campus Center property.
Msgr. Girard was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Norton on June 18, 1975. In each parish he served, he became involved in both church and community affairs. A lasting tribute to his ministry in the Norton community is the existence of several college scholarships for young people of the parish. He was chaplain for the Catholic residents at Norton State Hospital and established the R.E.A.C.H. program for the residents. He also served on the Norton State Hospital Citizen Advisory Committee during his ten-year stay. He was a Board member of the Valley Hope project and is an Emeritus member to this day. He was also interested in providing railroad facilities to the community. It was in Norton that he celebrated his 40th jubilee.
Msgr. Girard's next assignment was in Goodland in 1985, when he was pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish. Here he continued the same caliber of parochial solicitude and development that characterized all his assignments in the Salina Diocese. He was a member of the Goodland Chamber of Commerce and was known and appreciated for his efforts with the Ministerial Alliance.
On July 1, 1995, Msgr. Girard announced his retirement as he was approaching his fifty-year mark of ordination as a priest of the Salina Diocese. Following his retirement he took up residence at St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center adjacent to Kansas State University in Manhattan. For the past eight years, he has been a contract priest for Fort Riley.
Early in his life, Msgr. Girard joined the Knights of Columbus, and from 1976 to 1978 was State Chaplain of the Catholic Men's Organization. He has served at various times on college and hospital boards of directors. Within the Diocese of Salina, he has held positions on the Marriage Tribunal. In addition to his duties as Vicar General were assignments to the Diocesan Board of Consultors, membership on the Priest's Senate and the Diocesan Pastoral Council, and the Consultive Board of Marymount College in Salina.
Msgr. Girard is survived by one sister and by numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by twin brothers: Alpha and Alphonse Girard, by another brother: Jean Paul Girard and by three sisters: Aurelia and Madeline Girard who died in infancy and Marie Letourneau.
Obituary courtesy of Lady in Black.
Msgr. Armand F. Girard, 83, of Manhattan, died Wednesday morning, January 5, 2005, at the St. Joseph Village in Manhattan.
He was born on April 26, 1921, in Aurora, Kansas, one of eight children born to Leon and Blanche (Desilet) Girard. He grew up in a home filled with love for God, family and others. It was here that his vocation to the priesthood was fostered.
His studies for the priesthood took him to St. Benedict's College in Atchison, the St. Louis Preparatory Seminary, and Kenrick Seminary also in St. Louis. He was ordained June 10, 1945, in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina. Immediately after ordination he was sent to the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. where in two years, he obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law.
His first assignment was at Sacred Heart Cathedral in 1947. Four years later he was made pro-Chancellor of the Diocese and held that position until 1954 when he was assigned pastor of SS. Peter and Paul parish in Clay Center where he supervised the building of a new parish hall and fostered enlargement of the church, developing its sanctuary and adjacent areas.
In 1959, he was appointed as the first pastor of St. Mary Queen of the Universe in Salina, where he was instrumental in enlarging the St. Mary's grade school and in the construction of a rectory and convent. His parish also helped build the inter-parochial high school.
It was at this time, he was appointed Vicar General, a position he held from 1959-1983 under Bishops F.W. Freking, C.J. Vogel and Daniel Kucera.
Msgr. Girard visited Rome and attended some sessions of the Second Vatican Council. On September 21, 1967, he was installed as first pastor of the newly established Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. He also served as a member of the Fort Hays Catholic Campus Center Development Committee and helped arrange for purchase of Catholic Campus Center property.
Msgr. Girard was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Norton on June 18, 1975. In each parish he served, he became involved in both church and community affairs. A lasting tribute to his ministry in the Norton community is the existence of several college scholarships for young people of the parish. He was chaplain for the Catholic residents at Norton State Hospital and established the R.E.A.C.H. program for the residents. He also served on the Norton State Hospital Citizen Advisory Committee during his ten-year stay. He was a Board member of the Valley Hope project and is an Emeritus member to this day. He was also interested in providing railroad facilities to the community. It was in Norton that he celebrated his 40th jubilee.
Msgr. Girard's next assignment was in Goodland in 1985, when he was pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish. Here he continued the same caliber of parochial solicitude and development that characterized all his assignments in the Salina Diocese. He was a member of the Goodland Chamber of Commerce and was known and appreciated for his efforts with the Ministerial Alliance.
On July 1, 1995, Msgr. Girard announced his retirement as he was approaching his fifty-year mark of ordination as a priest of the Salina Diocese. Following his retirement he took up residence at St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center adjacent to Kansas State University in Manhattan. For the past eight years, he has been a contract priest for Fort Riley.
Early in his life, Msgr. Girard joined the Knights of Columbus, and from 1976 to 1978 was State Chaplain of the Catholic Men's Organization. He has served at various times on college and hospital boards of directors. Within the Diocese of Salina, he has held positions on the Marriage Tribunal. In addition to his duties as Vicar General were assignments to the Diocesan Board of Consultors, membership on the Priest's Senate and the Diocesan Pastoral Council, and the Consultive Board of Marymount College in Salina.
Msgr. Girard is survived by one sister and by numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by twin brothers: Alpha and Alphonse Girard, by another brother: Jean Paul Girard and by three sisters: Aurelia and Madeline Girard who died in infancy and Marie Letourneau.
Obituary courtesy of Lady in Black.
He was born on April 26, 1921, in Aurora, Kansas, one of eight children born to Leon and Blanche (Desilet) Girard. He grew up in a home filled with love for God, family and others. It was here that his vocation to the priesthood was fostered.
His studies for the priesthood took him to St. Benedict's College in Atchison, the St. Louis Preparatory Seminary, and Kenrick Seminary also in St. Louis. He was ordained June 10, 1945, in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina. Immediately after ordination he was sent to the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. where in two years, he obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law.
His first assignment was at Sacred Heart Cathedral in 1947. Four years later he was made pro-Chancellor of the Diocese and held that position until 1954 when he was assigned pastor of SS. Peter and Paul parish in Clay Center where he supervised the building of a new parish hall and fostered enlargement of the church, developing its sanctuary and adjacent areas.
In 1959, he was appointed as the first pastor of St. Mary Queen of the Universe in Salina, where he was instrumental in enlarging the St. Mary's grade school and in the construction of a rectory and convent. His parish also helped build the inter-parochial high school.
It was at this time, he was appointed Vicar General, a position he held from 1959-1983 under Bishops F.W. Freking, C.J. Vogel and Daniel Kucera.
Msgr. Girard visited Rome and attended some sessions of the Second Vatican Council. On September 21, 1967, he was installed as first pastor of the newly established Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. He also served as a member of the Fort Hays Catholic Campus Center Development Committee and helped arrange for purchase of Catholic Campus Center property.
Msgr. Girard was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Norton on June 18, 1975. In each parish he served, he became involved in both church and community affairs. A lasting tribute to his ministry in the Norton community is the existence of several college scholarships for young people of the parish. He was chaplain for the Catholic residents at Norton State Hospital and established the R.E.A.C.H. program for the residents. He also served on the Norton State Hospital Citizen Advisory Committee during his ten-year stay. He was a Board member of the Valley Hope project and is an Emeritus member to this day. He was also interested in providing railroad facilities to the community. It was in Norton that he celebrated his 40th jubilee.
Msgr. Girard's next assignment was in Goodland in 1985, when he was pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish. Here he continued the same caliber of parochial solicitude and development that characterized all his assignments in the Salina Diocese. He was a member of the Goodland Chamber of Commerce and was known and appreciated for his efforts with the Ministerial Alliance.
On July 1, 1995, Msgr. Girard announced his retirement as he was approaching his fifty-year mark of ordination as a priest of the Salina Diocese. Following his retirement he took up residence at St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center adjacent to Kansas State University in Manhattan. For the past eight years, he has been a contract priest for Fort Riley.
Early in his life, Msgr. Girard joined the Knights of Columbus, and from 1976 to 1978 was State Chaplain of the Catholic Men's Organization. He has served at various times on college and hospital boards of directors. Within the Diocese of Salina, he has held positions on the Marriage Tribunal. In addition to his duties as Vicar General were assignments to the Diocesan Board of Consultors, membership on the Priest's Senate and the Diocesan Pastoral Council, and the Consultive Board of Marymount College in Salina.
Msgr. Girard is survived by one sister and by numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by twin brothers: Alpha and Alphonse Girard, by another brother: Jean Paul Girard and by three sisters: Aurelia and Madeline Girard who died in infancy and Marie Letourneau.
Obituary courtesy of Lady in Black.
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