Fr. Ferdinand A. Wolber

FR. FERDINAND A. WOLBER, age 95, died ON January 4, 2009 in Livonia, Michigan. "You are a Priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." Known and loved by all, this great Roman Catholic priest passed into God's time on the Feast of the Epiphany, after having faithfully served in the Vineyard of Our Lord for over 68 years. Fr. Wolber was born in Detroit on November 25, 1913, to Maurice and Marie Wolber. He entered Sacred Heart Seminary in 1928, and was ordained a priest in Detroit's Blessed Sacrament Cathedral on May 18, 1940. He celebrated his first Mass at St. Elizabeth's Church in Detroit on May 19, 1940. Toward the end of World War II Father Wolber was assigned by his Bishop to the Military Chaplaincy. He crisscrossed Japan and the Philippine Islands for several years, serving missionary orphanages, hearing confessions, and celebrating Mass for thousands of American and Japanese Catholics. Called upon to visit the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he later wrote a friend: "I hope I never see such destruction again." After returning to the Detroit Diocese from Japan in 1947, Cardinal Mooney assigned him to the Military National Guard Chaplaincy. In all, he served over 16 years as a Military Chaplain, and retired from the military holding the rank of Major in 1964. Father Wolber served as a priest in several parishes of the Detroit Archdiocese, including Detroit Nativity (1940-1945), St. Monica in Detroit (1947-1952), St. Clement in Centerline (1952-1957), and St. Edward in Detroit (1957-1959). On June 26, 1959, Father Wolber was called upon by Cardinal Dearden to be the founder of St. Genevieve Church and School, in Livonia. He retired as pastor of St. Genevieve in 1984, after diligently serving there for over 25 years. After his "retirement," he tirelessly served the call of more than 20 other area parishes by volunteering to "fill in" for other priests who needed assistance. He often told people that God had been good to him, and that he felt blessed and grateful to be a priest. In 1986, Fr. Wolber was "drafted", by 120 Senior Priests of the Diocese, to represent them as their spokesman in a plea for much-needed priests' retirement benefit increases from the Archdiocese, and in this role he proved to be a very effective advocate for our retired priests. Father Wolber was loved and respected for his great strength of character, and for his unwavering adherence to the teachings of the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church. He was an astute pastor. His administrative skills were incomparable. His kindness and patience as a confessor brought many souls back to the Church. He had an indomitable love for Christ, and a deep devotion to Our Blessed Mother. A truly exemplary priest. Father Wolber was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Marie Johnson, Adelaide Potrikus, and Harold Wolber. He is survived by a sister-in-law, Evelyn Wolber; by 13 nephews and nieces, namely, Marilyn Garwood, Adelaide Humbach, James Johnson, Janice Junglas, Linda O'Leary, Alan Wolber, David Wolber, Jeffrey Wolber, Marlene Wolber, Randall Wolber, Ronald Wolber, Timothy Wolber, Gayle Zahringer; and by numerous grandnieces and grandnephews. He will be missed by all who knew him. Visitation on Tuesday, January 6 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Manns-Ferguson Funeral Home, 17000 Middlebelt Road (S. of 6 Mile) Livonia. In-State on Wednesday, January 7 from 12 noon to 9:00 p.m. with evening prayer at 7:00 p.m., at St. Genevieve Catholic Church, 29015 Jamison St. (east side of Middlebelt Road between 5 Mile and the Jeffries Freeway,) Livonia. Requiem Mass shall be celebrated by Cardinal Adam Maida on Thursday, January 8 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Genevieve Catholic Church. Interment will be at the Assumption Grotto Shrine (located at the intersection of Gratiot Ave. and McNichols Rd. in Detroit.) Memorials may be made to either St. Genevieve Parish or to Assumption Grotto Parish. Please share a memory of Father Wolber.