MADISON - Most Rev. George O. Wirz, retired auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Madison, age 81, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010 at his residence.
He was born in Monroe, Wisconsin on January 17, 1929, the son of Otto and Ida (Huber) Wirz. He attended Monroe and Argyle Public Grade School and Argyle High School. He studied at St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948. He studied at Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and earned a licentiate in sacred theology in 1952. Later, he studied at Marquette University, Wisconsin and earned a Masters of Arts in Education Administration in 1964. He was ordained by Bishop William P. O'Connor on May 31, 1952 at Saint Raphael Cathedral, Madison. He was named Monsignor and Papal Chamberlain to Pope John XXIII in 1960 and received the title Prelate of Honor by Pope Paul VI in 1967. Bishop Wirz was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Madison on December 20, 1977 and ordained Auxiliary Bishop on March 9, 1978.
Bishop Wirz served the Diocese as Assistant Pastor at St. Bernard Parish, Madison from 1952-1954; Chaplain of the Catholic Information Center and Bishop's Secretary and Chancellor from 1954-1963 (Vice Chancellor from1956-1958; Chancellor from 1958-1963); and Founding Rector of Holy Name Seminary from 1963-1973. He took a sabbatical year of study at Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1973-74. He served as Pastor of St. Bernard Parish, Madison from 1974-1984, pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Madison from 1984-1989, Diocesan Administrator from 1992-1993, and continued as Auxiliary Bishop until retiring from active ministry in 2004.
During his years of service in the Diocese of Madison, Bishop Wirz also served as Assistant Diocesan Director of CCD from 1953-1963; Charter Member, Governor's Commission on Migrant Labor from 1955-1961; Secretary, First Synod, Diocese of Madison in 1956; Instructor, Queen of Apostles Seminary from1954-1963; attended Opening and First Session, Second Vatican Council in 1962; Presbyteral Council from 1966-2002; Priest Personnel Board from 1967-1988; Diocesan Pastoral Council from 1970-1980; Co-Chair, Lutheran/Methodist/Roman Catholic Dialogue from 1975-1986; Diocesan Consultor from 1977-1980 and 1998-2003; Bishop's Committee for Priestly Formation from 1979-1987; Papal Visitation of Seminaries Committee from 1981-1987; Bishop's Committee of the North American College, Rome from 1990-1993; Censor Librorum from 1993-1999; and Diocesan Director, Implementation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church from 1994-1999. Bishop Wirz served as a member of the following Boards in various capacities throughout his tenure in the Diocese: St. Raphael Retirement Fund, Diocesan Corporate Board, Catholic Charities, and Office for Continuing Education of Priests.
He is survived by his sister, Sister Joan Wirz, CSA of Fond du Lac; his step-brother, Reverend Robert Buholzer of Stoughton; his step-nephews Ron (Sue) Buholzer of Monroe, David (Glenda) Buholzer of Monroe, Steve (Thea) Buholzer of Monroe; two step-grandnephews, one step-grandniece and several cousins both in the United States and Switzerland.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Maria Goretti Church, 5315 Flad Avenue, Madison on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 11:00 am. The Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, will be the principal celebrant with Most Reverend William H. Bullock, Bishop Emeritus of Madison, concelebrating and Most Rev. Richard Sklba, retired auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Milwaukee as homilist. Visitation will be held Monday, November 29th from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm in the Bishop O'Donnell Holy Name Memorial Chapel at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison with a Vigil Prayer Service at 7:30 pm. Visitation will also be on Tuesday morning from 9:00 am until start of the Funeral Mass. Interment will be in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, 2705 Regent Street, Madison, following Mass.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
He was born in Monroe, Wisconsin on January 17, 1929, the son of Otto and Ida (Huber) Wirz. He attended Monroe and Argyle Public Grade School and Argyle High School. He studied at St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948. He studied at Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and earned a licentiate in sacred theology in 1952. Later, he studied at Marquette University, Wisconsin and earned a Masters of Arts in Education Administration in 1964. He was ordained by Bishop William P. O'Connor on May 31, 1952 at Saint Raphael Cathedral, Madison. He was named Monsignor and Papal Chamberlain to Pope John XXIII in 1960 and received the title Prelate of Honor by Pope Paul VI in 1967. Bishop Wirz was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Madison on December 20, 1977 and ordained Auxiliary Bishop on March 9, 1978.
Bishop Wirz served the Diocese as Assistant Pastor at St. Bernard Parish, Madison from 1952-1954; Chaplain of the Catholic Information Center and Bishop's Secretary and Chancellor from 1954-1963 (Vice Chancellor from1956-1958; Chancellor from 1958-1963); and Founding Rector of Holy Name Seminary from 1963-1973. He took a sabbatical year of study at Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1973-74. He served as Pastor of St. Bernard Parish, Madison from 1974-1984, pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Madison from 1984-1989, Diocesan Administrator from 1992-1993, and continued as Auxiliary Bishop until retiring from active ministry in 2004.
During his years of service in the Diocese of Madison, Bishop Wirz also served as Assistant Diocesan Director of CCD from 1953-1963; Charter Member, Governor's Commission on Migrant Labor from 1955-1961; Secretary, First Synod, Diocese of Madison in 1956; Instructor, Queen of Apostles Seminary from1954-1963; attended Opening and First Session, Second Vatican Council in 1962; Presbyteral Council from 1966-2002; Priest Personnel Board from 1967-1988; Diocesan Pastoral Council from 1970-1980; Co-Chair, Lutheran/Methodist/Roman Catholic Dialogue from 1975-1986; Diocesan Consultor from 1977-1980 and 1998-2003; Bishop's Committee for Priestly Formation from 1979-1987; Papal Visitation of Seminaries Committee from 1981-1987; Bishop's Committee of the North American College, Rome from 1990-1993; Censor Librorum from 1993-1999; and Diocesan Director, Implementation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church from 1994-1999. Bishop Wirz served as a member of the following Boards in various capacities throughout his tenure in the Diocese: St. Raphael Retirement Fund, Diocesan Corporate Board, Catholic Charities, and Office for Continuing Education of Priests.
He is survived by his sister, Sister Joan Wirz, CSA of Fond du Lac; his step-brother, Reverend Robert Buholzer of Stoughton; his step-nephews Ron (Sue) Buholzer of Monroe, David (Glenda) Buholzer of Monroe, Steve (Thea) Buholzer of Monroe; two step-grandnephews, one step-grandniece and several cousins both in the United States and Switzerland.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Maria Goretti Church, 5315 Flad Avenue, Madison on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 11:00 am. The Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, will be the principal celebrant with Most Reverend William H. Bullock, Bishop Emeritus of Madison, concelebrating and Most Rev. Richard Sklba, retired auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Milwaukee as homilist. Visitation will be held Monday, November 29th from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm in the Bishop O'Donnell Holy Name Memorial Chapel at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison with a Vigil Prayer Service at 7:30 pm. Visitation will also be on Tuesday morning from 9:00 am until start of the Funeral Mass. Interment will be in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, 2705 Regent Street, Madison, following Mass.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.