Msgr. Duke, former St. Ann pastor, dies at 97

Friday, 24 June 2016 10:46 |  Written by Peter Finney Jr |   | 

Msgr. Charles E. Duke, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and longtime former pastor of St. Ann Church in Metairie, died June 23. He was 97 and had served for 69 years as a priest.

In February, Clarion Herald editor Peter Finney Jr. interviewed Msgr. Duke about his active life as a priest, even in his retirement   (click here to read the February column).

Read more for the complete funeral arrangements: 
Visitation: Monday, June 27, from 5 to 8 p.m., St. Ann Church, 3601 Transcontinental Drive, Metairie; Tuesday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to noon, St. Ann Church.

Funeral Mass: Tuesday, June 28 at noon at St. Ann Church. Archbishop Gregory Aymond will be the main celebrant

Interment: Burial will take place at Metairie Cemetery following the Funeral Mass.


Biography:
Msgr. Charles Edward Duke was born in Philadelphia on April 12, 1919. His elementary education was at Holy Cross and St. Madeleine Sophie in Philadelphia, and St. Mary’s Manor in Penndel, PA. He received his philosophy and theology education at Marist College in Washington, D.C. Msgr. Duke was ordained into the Society of Mary as a priest for the Marist Community on June 8, 1947 in Washington, D.C. He served as Assistant at All Hallows in San Francisco and St. Joseph’s in Marietta, GA. He was incardinated into the Archdiocese of New Orleans on December 30, 1968. Msgr. Duke served as Administrator of St. Nicholas of Myra in New Orleans, and his pastorates were at St. Joseph/St. Julian Eymard in New Orleans and St. Ann in Metairie until the time of his retirement in 1996. He was awarded the Prelate of Honor in 1980. In addition to his pastoral assignments in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, he also served as Coordinator of Religious Education, Director of Propagation of the Faith, Chancellor, Director of Personnel, a member of the Priests Council, Consultor of the Archdiocese, and Co-Chairperson of the Committee for the Temporal Goods for the Church for the 8th Synod of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Msgr. Duke was also a member of the Archdiocesan Fund Development Committee, Member of the Board of St. Mary’s Orphan Boys’ Asylum, Archdiocesan Education Task Force, and the Executive Committee to Oversee Study of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Msgr. Duke was living in Metairie at the time of his death. Well done, good and faithful servant!