Msgr. Theodore W. Kraus

Having recently celebrated the victory of Christ over sin and death on Easter Sunday, the Msgr. Theodore W. Kraus died on Monday, April 13, 2015.  Born March 3, 1938 and ordained a Priest of the Diocese of Buffalo, serving faithfully here for many years, he moved to California for health reasons several years ago and was incardinated in the Diocese of Oakland.
 
Upon being ordained a Priest, Msgr. Kraus served in parish ministry and was then named to the faculty of the Minor Seminary in Buffalo.  He was then appointed to Wadhams Hall Seminary College in Ogdensburg, where he taught religious studies and was a member of the formation staff there.  He was next appointed Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Buffalo and then Director of St. Ignatius Retreat House in Clarence.  He was the founding Director of the Permanent Diaconate program in our diocese and served on several national committees for the permanent deaconate.  Msgr. Kraus' last assignment in our diocese was as Pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Buffalo.  He also served as a Pastor in California and retired about two years ago.
 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Oakland next week.  A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Monday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Leo the Great, 885 Sweet Home Road, Amherst.  Priests are invited to concelebrate and deacons are invited to vest.  Please bring your diocesan vestment.