Father Ronald Braud, 81, was a priest with a listening heart

By Peter Finney Jr.
Clarion Herald

Father Ronald J. Braud, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, died Jan. 10  at Chateau de Notre Dame. He was 81 and had served for 56 years as a diocesan priest, including 20 years as a chaplain and religion teacher at Archbishop Blenk High School in Marrero.

“He was someone who was calm, cool and collected,” said Msgr. Lanaux Rareshide, the homilist at a Jan. 18 Funeral Mass who was friends with Father Braud in the Jesus Caritas Priests’ Fraternity. “He was a very pleasant fellow. In his final years, he had some pain in his life with medical problems.”

“He was a wonderful person,” said Mary Grace Purvis, a St. Louis King of France parishioner.

Father Braud liked to collect short newspaper clippings that resonated with his view of life, Msgr. Rareshide said.

One was written by Bessie Anderson Stanley in 1904: “He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem or a rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation of Earth’s beauty or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction.”

Another anonymous clipping he kept read:

“The Five Most Important Words: ‘I am proud of you.’”

“The Four Most Important Words: ‘What is your opinion?’”

“The Three Most Important Words: ‘If you please.’”

“The Two Most Important Words: ‘Thank you.’”

“The Least Important Word: ‘I.’”

Father Braud was born on Aug. 19, 1939, to Claude and Selma Cavalier Braud in Marrero. He attended Immaculate Conception School and Holy Name of Mary High School in New Orleans and began considering a vocation to the priesthood.

At 15, he met privately with Archbishop Joseph Rummel, who asked him why he wanted to study for the priesthood.

“I want to save my own soul and I want to save the souls of others,” he told the archbishop.

He entered St. Joseph Seminary in St. Benedict as a junior and continued his studies for the priesthood at Notre Dame Seminary. He was ordained on Dec. 19, 1964, and celebrated his first Mass the next day at his family's parish church, St. Rita in Harahan.

His first assignment as a priest was as parochial vicar at Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in New Orleans East, where he served as moderator of the CYO, altar servers and the CCD program. 

He later served at Mater Dolorosa, St. Cecilia and St. Andrew the Apostle parishes in New Orleans. 

Father Braud earned a doctorate in medieval and early modern European history in 1977 from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, where he served as chaplain at Opelousas General Hospital and three area nursing homes.

 In 1980, Father Braud was assigned to Archbishop Blenk, where he served as chaplain, counselor and religion teacher for 20 years. He was assigned to St. Louis King of France Parish in Metairie in 2000 and served as parochial vicar until his retirement in 2010.

“It was here at St. Louis King of France that he had his last assignment,” said Archbishop Aymond, principal celebrant of the Funeral Mass. “We thank God for the many ways in which he has served as a priest of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“To hear those who were close to him and those who sought guidance from him, they often say that he listened, not just with his ears but with his heart. He was very interested in people and in what they had to say, especially if they were sharing with him some of the burdens of life.”

The archbishop said as Father Braud’s health began to fail, he was able to unite his sufferings with the sufferings of Christ.

Father Braud was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Judy Ann Braud Coney. He is survived by his cousins, Larry J. Cavalier, Gwendolyn C. Deroche, Dorothy C. Delhom and Louis Paul Dugas.

The family thanked R&R Home Care, the employees and staff of Chateau de Notre Dame Assisted Living Facility and the hospice and private sitters of Chateau de Notre Dame for their care. 

Interment was in Garden of Memories Cemetery. 

Memorial donations may be made to the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retired Priest Fund, Department of Clergy, Archdiocese of New Orleans, 7887 Walmsley Ave., New Orleans, LA 70125. 

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