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Love and necessity compelled Father Eugene Paul Selzer to serve St. Louis Byzantine Catholic Mission in St. Louis at its founding, and impelled him to continue, even after retiring from active ministry in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The biritual priest, who served faithfully as administrator of the mission, from 1986 to 2013, died March 22 in St. Louis; he was 84.
Father Selzer was born June 25, 1934, to Arthur and Helen (nee Rau) Selzer in St. Louis. He attended St. Louis Preparatory Seminary and Cardinal Glennon College, and earned his master’s degree in philosophy in 1957, and his licentiate in theology in 1961, both from Catholic University of America. Cardinal Joseph Ritter of St. Louis ordained him a priest March 18, 1961. Upon completing his studies, he was an assistant parish priest and part-time high school religion teacher.
He began studies at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of San Anselmo in Rome, earning his doctorate in 1969, and subsequently serving as a full-time professor of liturgy at Kenrick Seminary in Missouri, and in part-time parish ministry. Upon leaving teaching in 1987, he was assigned to full-time parish work, eventually serving as pastor at St. William Parish (1997-2002), and as pastor of St. Andrew Parish (2004-2009), until his retirement from active ministry in June 2009.
In the midst of his busy teaching and parish ministry, Father Selzer met Mel and Jackie Makara volunteering at a local charity. The Makaras told Father Selzer they needed a priest for the new Byzantine Catholic mission they were founding, and Father Selzer volunteered to fill the need. Bishop Andrew Pataki of Parma named him administrator of the newly designated St. Louis Mission, Dec. 15, 1985, which he served for 28 years, retiring from the mission in 2013.
“Father Gene was one of the best people I knew, he was open to everyone and honest,” said Father David Petras, a priest of the Eparchy of Parma, who studied liturgy in Rome at the same time as Father Selzer.
Father Petras said he never suspected Father Selzer would become a biritual priest. “One day, he just showed up at one of our eparchial meetings,” he said.
Marilyn and Bob Hertenstein, longtime members of St. Louis Mission, recalled Father Selzer’s dedication and efforts to grow the mission. He was very helpful in finding the community a new place for worship each time the mission had to move, Bob said, adding that Father Selzer would give presentations on Byzantine liturgy and the Eastern Churches in the region.
“He was a very good priest in every sense of the word,” he said.
Marilyn remembered Father Selzer as being “kind, soft-spoken and very smart. He always gave good advice.”
The priest loved music and photography, cooking and wine-making. An adventurous spirit, he enjoyed wilderness backpacking, yachting, river rafting, canoeing, fishing, skiing, cycling and scuba diving; he spoke German and Italian.
Father Selzer is survived by his sisters, Janet (the late Ernest) Velasco and Marie (Ron) Peters, and his nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Bishop Robert J. Carlson of St. Louis celebrated the funeral Mass at St. Matthias Parish, March 27. Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma and retired Bishop John Kudrick of Parma attended. Interment followed at Resurrection Cemetery.
May God grant the priest Eugene blessed repose and eternal memory.
As published in Horizons, April 21, 2019.
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