Fr. Eugene Bode (1848-1933)

Father Eugene Bode passed away November 8, 1933.

A native of St. Louis, Mo., Father Eugene came to St. Benedict’s College as a student in 1862 and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Louis Mary Fink, OSB, on April 24, 1873.  Early in his priesthood he rode the mission circuit in Seneca and both Mooney Creek and St. Patrick’s south of Atchison.  He received his education at St. Vincent Archabbey and St. John’s, Collegeville, Minn.  He was professed as a member of the community in August 1866 after a novitiate at St. Vincent and was once a member of St. Leander’s Priory, Pueblo, Colo. 

Poor eyesight and poor health forced his retirement to the abbey.  He lived at the abbey for several years until a stroke paralyzed him.  The last five years of his life were spent at St. Margaret’s Hospital, Kansas City, Kan. 

An obituary in the Abbey News says:  “…in he summer of 1923 he returned to the abbey at Atchison.  Father Eugene was then partially blind but in spite of his infirmity was faithful in his attendance at the community office and said Holy Mass daily until stricken by paralysis.”