Retired pastor was shepherd to many in St. Bernard, Garyville

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

Father Charles Caluda, a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans since 1962, died Dec. 2 at age 89. He retired in 2005 and lived in St. Bernard until his death.
 
Born in Metairie, Father Caluda attended St. Catherine of Siena School in Metairie as well as Woodlawn School in Bertrandville, Braithwaite School and Louisiana State University, where he earned degrees in music and music education.

He was assistant pastor at St. Philip Neri in Metairie, St. Rita in New Orleans, St. Pius X in New Orleans, St. Francis of Assisi in New Orleans and Christ the King Church in Terrytown. He served as pastor of St. Hubert Parish in Garyville for almost 40 years and at St. Louise de Marillac in Arabi. He also served as dean of the St. Bernard Deanery and chaplain of the Catholic Daughters of America Court 1334.

At his funeral Mass Dec. 9 celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Violet – the parish where Father Caluda celebrated his first Mass on June 3, 1962 –  Father Joseph Palermo, pastor of St. Francis Xavier in Metairie and Father Caluda’s spiritual director for the past 18 years, said his friend had a lifelong love of music and even played the violin and performed with the symphony.

“He experienced God in beauty and especially in the beauty of music,” Father Palermo said. “As a priest, he loved celebrating Mass, hearing confessions and absolving sins. He simply loved being a priest.  His whole life was about priesthood. He enjoyed preaching, teaching and counseling people and considered it God’s great gift to do this as a priest.  He often shared fondly about his time of service at St. Hubert.”

After Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home, Father Caluda lived for a time and helped out at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Chalmette and at other churches in St. Bernard, Father Palermo said. He also heard confession regularly at the seminary.

“Father Charlie will be greatly missed by parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernard Catholic churches where he spent most of his retirement years,” said Adeline Landry of St. Bernard. “We admired him and were inspired by his spirituality and love of celebrating Mass even when it became physically difficult for him. We were truly blessed to have him.”

Father Palermo called his friend Charlie “a true intercessory prayer warrior” who committed himself to a life of deep prayer and read many theological books, especially on the topics of purgatory and indulgences.

“If he didn’t have a Mass to celebrate in a parish, he celebrated Mass in his home every day,” Father Palermo said. “He faithfully prayed his breviary and spent time in quiet reflection, including an hour daily before the Blessed Sacrament with a monstrance in his home. He prayed one or more rosaries every day.” 

Former parishioners lauded Father Caluda
“Father Caluda was instrumental in my formation as a young teenager,” wrote Tammy Loque Vidrine, director of campus ministry at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in Baton Rouge, recalling her confirmation preparation with Father Caluda. “He taught me to really read the Bible. … It is because of him that I am a lector in my church. He was a big part of the Garyville community. Thanks for your service, good and faithful servant of God!”

“Charlie was crystal clear that God created him, loved him and wanted to spend eternity with him,” Father Palermo said in his homily. “He lived in a holy fear of offending God. He enjoyed sharing his love of God, the church, the sacraments and the faith with others. I can’t imagine how many thousands of lives Charlie touched in 59 years of priesthood in various parishes and parochial assignments; how many people he baptized, catechized, married, buried, brought to the faith, helped and served along the way. “

He is survived by his brothers Daniel (wife Mercedes Caluda)  and Gerald Caluda; and his sisters Roselyn Fernandez (Anthony) and Gaynel Parker (Newton).

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