The Reverend Monsignor Walter Francis Jude, 89, died peacefully early Tuesday morning, May 5, at the Sanctuary at St. Mary’s after a brief illness. He was born August 28, 1919, in Irons, the son of Dominic Judis and Kazimera Elijosius, who preceded him in death. A 1938 high school graduate of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Grand Rapids, he also attended college there (1938-40) and at St. Gregory’s Seminary in Cincinnati (1940-42).

After his theology course at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati (1942-45), he was ordained a priest on October 27, 1945, at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Grand Rapids by Bishop Francis J. Haas. After a brief assignment as assistant at St. Mary’s in Muskegon, Monsignor Jude spent five years as assistant at SS. Peter & Paul in Grand Rapids (1946-51), then another five at Sacred Heart in Mount Pleasant (1951-56). He served as pastor at Mancelona (1956-61), SS. Peter & Paul in Grand Rapids (1961-71), Newaygo and White Cloud (1971-77), St. Thomas in Grand Rapids (1977-78), Ludington (1978-82), Reed City (1982-84), and at his home parish of St. Bernard’s in Irons (1984-90).

His missionary zeal took him to serve two terms in Alaska in the 1990s, and later to be available to substitute at parishes in the Diocese of Grand Rapids as long as his health permitted. He came to spend winters at St. Ann’s Home in Nov. 23, 2003, and resided there when he could no longer live at his beloved Dvaras in Irons. Monsignor Jude was responsible for directing the construction of churches in Winn, Mancelona, and Bellaire, the school at SS. Peter & Paul, the chapel at the parish cemetery, the parish hall at St. Stanislaus in Ludington, and the Christmas shrine in Irons. A longtime member of the Diocesan Building Committee, Monsignor received the honorary dignity of domestic prelate in 1967. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Peter, Louis, and Tony, and by his sisters, Ann and Sister Donata.

Monsignor is survived by his two sisters in Grand Rapids, Sister Emeliana and Sister Helen Jude; his brothers, Jacob (Lorraine) Judis of Irons, Stanley (Patricia) Judis of Howard City; his sister-in-law, Caroline Judis of Muskegon; and ten nieces and nephews. Among his many friends are the Hermits of St. Mary on Mount Carmel in Ludington, the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus at St. Ann’s Home, and the Dominican Sisters of Marywood, to which three of his sisters have belonged.

Visitation for Monsignor Jude will be held Thursday at St. Bernard’s in Irons from 7 to 9 p.m., with a Vigil service at 8:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Bernard’s on Friday at 11 a.m. Visitation in Grand Rapids will take place Sunday, May 10, at SS. Peter & Paul Church from 3 to 7 p.m., concluding with a Vigil service at 7 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, May 11 at SS. Peter & Paul, at 11 a.m., with the Most Rev. Walter A. Hurley, Bishop of Grand Rapids, presiding. Burial will be in the priests’ plot at SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery.

Ludington Daily News
Published Online Wednesday, 6 May 2009