MADISON — Msgr. Wilfred J. Schuster, 90, a pastor emeritus in the Diocese of Madison, died on Saturday, March 12, in Madison.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday, March 15, at St. Maria Goretti Church, 5313 Flad Ave., Madison. Bishop Robert C. Morlino was the principal celebrant and Msgr. Kevin Holmes gave the homily.
Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery, Madison.
Monsignor Schuster was born to Louis and Mary (Skala) Schuster on February 13, 1921, in Sun Prairie. He attended Sacred Hearts Grade School, Sun Prairie, and Edgewood High School, Madison. He studied philosophy and theology at St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee.
Bishop William P. O’Connor ordained him to the priesthood on June 8, 1946, at St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison, as one of the first priests ordained for the newly created Diocese of Madison.
After ordination, he served as associate pastor of St. James Parish, Madison. He then served as pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Brodhead, with the mission of St. Patrick Parish, Albany.
On June 12, 1959, Bishop O’Connor asked Monsignor Schuster to establish a new parish on the west side of Madison under the patronage of St. Maria Goretti. Monsignor Schuster served as the founding pastor there until his retirement in 1996.
In May of 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named Monsignor Schuster Prelate of Honor of His Holiness.
During his years of priestly ministry, Monsignor Schuster served the Diocese of Madison in many ways. Among them were as pro-synodal judge in the Matrimonial Tribunal, member of the Board of Conciliation and Arbitration, member of the Priests’ Senate, member of the Board of Directors of Resurrection Cemetery, deanery director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, member of the Edgewood High School Advisory Board, diocesan director of rural life and member of the national board of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, member of Diocesan Services Appeal Committee, chaplain for the diocesan St. Vincent de Paul Society, priest director of the Thanksgiving Overseas Clothing Drive, diocesan director of Catholic Relief Services, chaplain for Knights of Columbus Council 4527, and spiritual advisor of Branch 88 of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin.
Monsignor Schuster also received the Mazzuchelli Award for Service to Christian Education presented by Edgewood High School.
A sister, Dorothy Callies, Sun Prairie, survives Monsignor Schuster.
In lieu of flowers, Mass intentions and other spiritual gifts would be most appreciated. To view and sign his guestbook, visit www.ryanfuneralservice.com