The Obituary for Rev. Walter A.
Buckius S.J.
July 13, 1920 - April 25, 2017
Rev. Walter A. Buckius, SJ, was born in
Lancaster, PA on July 13, 1920. He graduated from Lancaster
Catholic High School and after two years at Georgetown
College in Washington, DC, entered the Society of Jesus at
the Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues in Wernersville, PA in
1940. He attended West Baden College in Indiana and received
his B.A. and Licentiate in Philosophy. He then earned a
Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Woodstock College in
Woodstock, MD, and was ordained a priest on June 22, 1952.
As a Jesuit scholastic, Fr. Buckius taught Latin, Greek and
English at Georgetown Prep. Following ordination, he
returned to the Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues in
Wernersville and served as socius to the novice master for
Brothers and as a spiritual Father for Brothers. In 1966, he
spent two years as superior of the Carroll House in
Washington, DC, and then served five years as rector of
Bishop's Latin School in Pittsburgh.
In 1973, Fr. Buckius began his nearly
40-year tenure at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling,
WV. He served his first decade as an academic counselor and
rector, and in 1985 became the college chaplain for two
years and then associate chaplain for eight. From 1995 to
2000, he served as assistant director of campus ministries,
and continued his work in spiritual direction through 2011.
He told his students, faculty and fellow Jesuits upon
leaving, "Live your life with an open heart and you will see
the image of Christ in all that you do." Fr. Buckius then
moved to the Colombiere Jesuit Community in Baltimore,
praying for the Church and the Society of Jesus.
He died on April 25, 2017 at the age of
96. Visitation for father were held on Thursday, April 27
from 7 to 8:30 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at
Columbiere Jesuit Community, 5704 Roland Ave., Baltimore, MD
21210. The Funeral Mass was celebrated on Friday, April 28
at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 13717 Cuba Road, Hunt
Valley, MD 21030 (Shawan Road Exit Rt. 83) at 10:30 a.m.
Viewing in the church was from 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. Interment
Jesuit Cemetery Wernersville,
PA immediately following.
