Obituaries

Father Method Mraz, O.S.B.,

 The Rev. Method J. Mraz, O.S.B., 91, a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died on Monday, June 9, 1997. He had been in failing health for the last few years.

Fr. Method was born in Knox Run, Clearfield County, Penn., on February 19, 1906. He attended Winburn Grade School, Saint Francis Preparatory School (Indiana, Penn.), and was a 1925 graduate of Saint Vincent Preparatory School. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Saint Vincent College, and completed his ordination studies at Saint Vincent Seminary.

He entered the Benedictine Monastic Community of Saint Vincent Archabbey in 1927. He made Simple Profession of Vows on July 2, 1928, and Solemn Profession on July 11, 1931. He was ordained a Priest in Saint Vincent Archabbey Church by the late Hugh C. Boyle, Bishop of Pittsburgh, on June 17, 1934.

Fr. Method served the Archabbey in its pastoral apostolates. He was an assistant at Saint Benedict Parish, Carrolltown (1934–1940), and Blessed Sacrament Parish (now Blessed Sacrament Cathedral), Greensburg (1940–1941). He was Pastor at Saint Bartholomew Parish, Crabtree (1941–1955), Saint Bruno Parish, South Greensburg (1955–1970), and Saint Martin Parish, New Derry (1970-1984). Since 1984 he had been in residence at the Archabbey.

While he was Pastor at Saint Bruno, he directed the building of the present church and opened the grade school there.

Fr. Method was preceded in death by his parents John and Mary (Petkac) Mraz, and three siblings. He is survived by the Monastic Community; his brother Joseph and sister Mary Backa, both of Fairview Park, Oh.; and a brother, Michael of Cleveland, Oh.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Health and Welfare Fund of Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA 15650.