Fr. Jude Burbach (1927-2012)

Father Jude Burbach passed away August 22, 2012.

Elwin Burbach was born February 9, 1927, in Hartington, Neb., attending Holy Trinity Catholic Grade School and High School, graduating in 1945.  After one year of studies at St. Benedict’s College, he entered the novitiate, received the name Jude, and professed vows on July 11, 1947.  Receiving his bachelor’s degree in philosophy, he completed theology studies and was ordained on May 30, 1953.

For the first five years after ordination, Father Jude served as dorm prefect and Latin instructor at St. Benedict’s College.  Then for ten years he served in parishes in Atchison, Purcell and Burlington, Iowa.  While perusing graduate studies at Rosary College, River Forest, Ill., from 1968-1970, Father Jude served as chaplain for the Benedictine Sisters at St. Scholastica Monastery, Chicago.  Completing his masters in Library Science in 1970, he worked in the college library for five years, then responded to an invitation to missionary work at the Priory in Brazil from 1975 until 1983.  Upon his return to the States, Father Jude returned to work in the college library as head librarian from 1984-1986.  Father Jude served in many Kan. parishes including Doniphan, Troy, Wathena, Onaga, Lillis and Blaine until his retirement in 2003.

He, in his quiet way, was a witness to the transformative power of Christ in the Benedictine way of life.  Always faithful to prayer, lectio divina, and community life, he had an interest in the new and the old.  He was curious about the world around him, and the people he met.  He was always supportive of monks’ projects, and expressed an interest in how things were going.