Rev. Msgr. Joseph E. Bourgeois

Deceased: 2008-03-13

Diocese: NEW ORLEANS

Seminary Graduation Year: 1959

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Msgr. Joseph E Bourgeois was born in Good Hope, Louisiana. He attended St. Charles Elementary in Destrehan. His high school and college years were at St. Joseph Seminary. He received his B.A. degree from Notre Dame Seminary in 1955. He attended The Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1955-1959 and received an S.T.L. He was ordained at the North American College in Rome on December 20, 1958. Msgr. Bourgeois served as an assistant pastor at St. Gabriel, St. Agnes, Christ the King and St. Frances Cabrini parishes. His ministry as pastor was at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Hahnville; Christ the King, Terrytown; St. Ann, Metairie; and St. Peter, Reserve. In addition to parish ministry, he served at some time as Assistant Director of the Family Life Office and Moderator of the Family Life Apostolate. He was a member of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council. He served as Dean of the West Bank Deanery. He served as Director of the Family Life Apostolate and as Chaplain for St. JosephAcademy. He was named a prelate of honor on July 18, 1988. Msgr. Bourgeois retired from active ministry on March 1, 2006 and resided at the St. John Vianney Villa.

Monsignor was the beloved son of Noelie Poche Bourgeois, originally from Paulina, and the late Earle “Duke” Bourgeois. He is survived by his sister, Judith Bourgeois Casey and her husband, Thomas B. Casey of Ponchatoula, Louisiana. He was the uncle of Daphne Gardner, Denise Naquin, Laurie Bivalacqua, Beth Casey, Kathleen Tucker, Timothy Casey, Sean Casey, Christopher Casey and Jenny LeRay. He had 28 great nieces and nephews and 2 great great nephews.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Funeral Mass on Monday, March 17, 2008 at 1:00 pm at Christ the King Church,535 Deerfield Road, Terrytown. Visitation at the church from 9:00 am until funeral time. Interment St. Charles Borromeo, Destrehan, La.