Fr. Leo Hinz, OSBSeptember 22, 1924 - March 25, 2011Fr. Leo George Hinz, OSB, age 86, died March 25, 2011 the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. He died while eating supper in the community dining room. Fr. Leo was born September 22, 1924, son of Andrew B. and Aloysia (nee Nenzel) Hinz of Muenster. He attended St. Peter's College for his high school and initial university classes and joined St. Peter's Abbey, making profession of monastic vows on August 13, 1944. Following seminary studies at St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minn., he was ordained in St. Peter's Cathedral, Muenster, by Bishop Philip Pocock of Saskatoon on June 3, 1950. He spent the next three years at Ottawa University acquiring a degree in canon law. From 1953- 1967, he was on the staff of St. Peter's College. He was appointed pastor of St. Gregor parish in 1964 and was pastor of Watson from 1967-1968 and then spent a sabbatical year at St. Paul University, Ottawa. The following year he was assistant in Bruno parish, chaplain at the Ursuline convent and became Bruno's pastor in 1970. He was posted on the Regional Matrimonial Tribunal of Vancouver from 1971-1974. He became pastor of Fulda parish in 1974 and then from January 1975 until July 1977 he held the post of Judicial Vicar of the Regional Tribunal of Regina. Following that appointment he was named pastor of Muenster from 1977-1982. During the following ten years he was pastor of St. Augustine parish, Humboldt. The Archdiocese of Regina claimed his services as Judicial Vicar for the Regional Matrimonial Tribunal from 1992-1993. He was then named as pastor of Bruno and chaplain at the Ursuline convent. He was the resident pastor in Cudworth from 1998-2006, then he became pastor at Watson for a year before he retired to the abbey. Fr. Leo also served the former Abbacy of Muenster as chancellor and vicar general. Leo is survived by the monastic community of St. Peter's Abbey; two brothers and five sisters: Albert (Isabel) Hinz; Marie Hilgers; Anne Recio; Sr. Louise Hinz, OSU; Edwin (Michel) Hinz; Lillian Hinz; and Sr. Denise Hinz, OSU; sisters-in-law: Janina (David) Campbell; Dolores Hinz; Sylvia Hinz; brother-in-law, John Teunissen. Leo was predeceased by his parents, Andrew and Aloysia (nee Nenzel) Hinz; three sisters and five brothers: Margaret (Joseph) Saretsky; Conrad (Lucy) Hinz; Harold Hinz; Joseph Hinz; Lawrence Hinz (in infancy); Wilfrid Hinz; Evelyn Hinz; Agnes (Patrick) Enright; sister-in law, Brigitta Hinz; and two brothers-in-law, Raymond Hilgers and Joaquin Recio. The Prayer Service for Fr. Leo was held on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at 7:30 p.m., from St. Peter's Cathedral, Muenster led by Prior Rudolph Novecosky, OSB. The Funeral Mass was offered on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 10:30 a.m., celebrated by Abbot Peter Novecosky from St. Augustine R.C. Church, Humboldt. Interment followed at the St. Peter's Abbey Cemetery, Muenster. Memorial donations may be directed to the Abbey Elder Care Fund. SCHULER-LEFEBVRE, Humboldt, SK.
