IN MEMORY OF REVEREND WAYNE G. FUNK

           Wayne George Funk was born in Baltimore on January 6, 19 38 the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred H. Funk, Sr.  A member of Saint Dominic’s Parish, he attended the elementary school there finishing in 1951.  In the fall of that year he entered Saint Charles College in Baltimore to begin studies for the priesthood.  He finished four years of high school and two years of college there.  In the fall of 1957 he was assigned to continue his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome .  He received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1959 and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1963, both from the Pontifical Gregorian University .  He was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 19 62 in the Church of Christ the King in Rome by the Most Reverend Martin J. O’Connor, then Rector of the Pontifical North American College.

            After finishing his studies in the Spring of 1963, Father Funk returned to Baltimore , assigned as Associate Pastor at Saint Agnes Church, Catonsville .  While there, Father Funk also served as an auditor on the Tribunal and as a Chaplain to Mount Saint Joseph High School .  He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the West Baltimore Inter-Faith and Inter-Religious Council and was active in planning and giving ecumenical retreats for priests and ministers.  In the Fall of 1969, Father Funk returned to Rome , assigned to the faculty of the North American College as Assistant Vice Rector and Instructor.  Father Funk served as spiritual director and formation advisor to the seminarians while also serving as Director of the Apostolate Program and a teacher of homiletics.

            After serving his five year term on the faculty, Father Funk returned to Baltimore in 1974 and was assigned as Associate Pastor at Saint Matthew’s Parish, Baltimore.  In January, 1977 he was appointed Director of Clergy Personnel where he served for seven years.  After a brief sabbatical, Father Funk was appointed Pastor of Saint Matthew’s Parish where he had remained in residence.  In 1990, he was appointed Pastor of Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Frederick , Maryland .  During his time as Pastor of Saint John the Evangelist, Father Funk was also briefly appointed in 1991 as Temporary Administrator of Saint Anthony’s Parish, Emmitsburg, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Thurmont.

            In his file, were several notes acknowledging the impact Father Funk made as a priest in his more than 45 years of priestly service.  From Bishop Frank Murphy on the occasion of Father Funk’s twenty-fifth anniversary to the priesthood: “His unfailing humor and honesty can unmask our own illusions about life.  I gratefully acknowledge his leadership and his talents making exceptional contributions to parish life, to the formation of hundreds of American priests, and to the pastoral care of his fellow priests in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.”

            From his time as Pastor of Saint John’s, Frederick, the Chancery received a note following a wedding Father Funk had celebrated: “Father presided at the marriage of my niece in the beautifully renovated parish church.  He was so caring of the young couple, our families and friend.  Christ was very present in His people gathered at Saint John the Evangelist Parish thanks to Father Funk’s graciousness.  I am the aunt and the godmother of the bride.  I feel the young couple have gotten off to a good start in their lives together and know that their wedding was a grace filled moment for them and for all of us.”

            Msgr. Jaskot wrote, “On a personal note, Father Funk was the pastor of Saint John’s when I was assigned there, my first full-time parish assignment. In his often gruff, usually loud but always patient (at least with me) manner, he helped me make the difficult transition from seminary academics to parish service.  He had an intense love for the priesthood of Jesus Christ and a deep desire to serve God’s people.  He helped to teach me how powerful the presence of Christ in the person of the priest.  Early on, I watched as he attended every wake service possible, even in such a large parish, simply because he was the pastor, their spiritual father.  Even after I left Saint John’s and had come downtown, people would tell me of the profound impact Father Wayne had made on their lives and several continued to keep in touch with him even 40 years later. Many, especially priests, shared with me, the great respect they gained for Father Wayne, after watching him care so gently and so thoroughly for his predecessor as Pastor of Saint John’s , Monsignor Edward Echle.  What a blessing that this gift was returned to Father Wayne in the care that Father Dick Murphy and the staff of Saint John’s gave to Father Wayne through his long battle with cancer.   In fact, Father Wayne entered eternal life as Father Murphy, Father Murillo, Father Farmer, and Mrs. Maria Johnson were praying the ‘Prayers for the Dying’.”

            In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are to be sent to St. Matthews Parish, 5401 Loch Raven Blvd. , Baltimore, MD 21239; to Cardinal Shehan School, 5407 Loch Raven Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21239; St. John Regional Catholic School, 8414 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702; or St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 112 East Second Street, Frederick, MD 21701.