RIP Fr. Dominque Bourmaud SSPX

With great sadness, the U.S. District of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) announces the passing of Fr. Dominique Bourmaud. He went to his eternal reward in the early hours of Saturday, September 4, 2021, after contracting COVID-19 more than a month ago. Father experienced a series of debilitating health problems in the weeks that followed. He was, fortunately, able to receive Last Rites and all the prayers of the Roman Ritual for the sick and dying before his death. During his illness, Catholics around the world prayed fervently for his recovery. It is a testament to his kindness, pastoral sense, and tireless work to restore Catholic Tradition that so many were moved deeply by news of his condition.

One of seven children, his family hailed from the Vendee region of France, a point of particular pride to Father. (He would spend only six months as a priest in his native France.) Ordained a priest by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1981, Fr. Bourmaud spent 25 of his 40 years of priesthood teaching in the SSPX’s seminaries.

He was assigned as a professor to St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary (then in Ridgefield, CT) in 1983, where he would stay until 1993, five years after it moved to Winona, MN.  He also taught at the Seminary of Our Lady Co-Redemptrix in Argentina from 1994 to 1997 and Holy Cross Seminary in Australia from 1997 to 2009. Even after returning to the United States, he spent the better part of a decade shepherding diocesan and religious priests to the traditional Mass or even the Society of St. Pius X through its “priests program.” In some sense, Father never stopped teaching.

Besides the countries already mentioned, he also spent time in Spain and Kenya. All told, Father worked in the apostolate on five separate continents. He had just been appointed Prior of St. Vincent’s in Kansas City in August 2021.

In America, Fr. Bourmaud made a singular contribution to the U.S. District’s publishing apostolate, Angelus Press. During his time at the Press, Father oversaw the publication of The Angelus magazine, including developing themes for each issue, recruiting authors, and ensuring that its content was thoroughly orthodox. Fr. Bourmaud also extended his work as censor into the Press’s book-publishing arena. As a learned cleric with connections worldwide, Father provided invaluable assistance identifying new and out-of-print works in other languages that would be of great interest to traditional Catholics.

Even with this heavy workload, Fr. Bourmaud continued in his priestly ministry until his health declined. He also found time to compose two books, One Hundred Years of Modernism and, most recently, An Introduction to Catholic Social Doctrine. He also gave his time to assist priests, both in and outside the SSPX, for their ministries and appeared in two episodes of the ongoing Crisis in the Church podcast series.

There are many more beautiful things to be said about Fr. Bourmaud in due course. For now, please join the priests and religious of the Society, along with the lay faithful who work for the U.S. District, in praying for Father’s soul. May God quickly receive his good and faithful servant into the halls of Heaven.

Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Dominique Bourmaud, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

To view the Solemn high Mass for the respose of his soul see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE1uFnbvcro