Obituary of Reverend George Joseph Werner, S.M.M.

Fr. George J. Werner, S.M.M. died peacefully December 3rd at the Montfort Missionary Community in Bay Shore, N.Y. He was 86 years old, a professed member of the Montfort Missionaries for 65 years, and 59 years a priest. Son of the late John and Jeanne Werner, he was raised in the Montfort parish of St. Mary Gate of Heaven, Ozone Park, N.Y., his whole life being intertwined with Montfortian ministries, friends and associates around the world. Ordained a priest in 1957, Father George's earliest – and most enduring – ministry was preaching the Word of God in parish missions and retreats. During those years he was asked to spearhead the fundraising and construction of the new Montfort Seminary in Bay Shore, which served as a High School Seminary for many years, before becoming the current Montfort Spiritual Center. From 1963-1968 he served in Harford City, Indiana as Novice Master for the United States Province. Returning to Ozone Park, Fr. Werner began many years of varied and fruitful ministry there: as Associate Pastor from 1969-73 and again from 1977-79; as Vocation Director from 1973-77. Elected Provincial Superior of the Montforts in the USA from 1979-85, he continued to make Ozone Park his base, even as he travelled around the country and the world in his responsibilities for the Montfort Community. Father George was named Pastor of St. Mary Gate of Heaven Parish in 1986 and served there until 1994. The Montfort Spiritual Center in Bay Shore laid claim to Fr. Werner's gifts as a preacher, retreat master and spiritual director for the remainder of his ministry, from 1994 until his death. Superior of the community for nearly 20 years, he was also actively involved in many neighboring parishes in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and was sought out by clergy, religious and lay people as a confessor and spiritual guide. He had a keen eye and hand for building, improving and beautifying Montfort Center and its grounds. It would be hard to count the number of people across the years of his ministry who looked to Father George for calm strength, faithful support and warm friendship. Pre-deceased by his parents, a sister, Eleanor Baer and her husband, Bruce; brother John Werner and wife, Mary; and by his sister-in-law, Florence Werner, Father George is survived by his brother Larry, and many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours and Wake will be at Montfort Spiritual Center, 26 South Saxon Avenue, Bay Shore, N.Y. on Tuesday, December 6th from 2 till 7:30 pm. A Mass of Remembrance and Thanksgiving will be celebrated in the Incarnate Wisdom Chapel at Montfort Center at 7:30 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Patrick's Church, Bay Shore, N.Y. on Wednesday, December 7th at 11:00 am. Burial will be at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Bay Shore. A true son of St. Louis Marie de Montfort, Father George's death invokes the memory of the epitaph at Montfort's own tomb: "Traveler, what do you see? A light quenched... a priest of Christ, he showed forth Christ in his actions and preached him everywhere in his words. Indefatigable, he rested only in his grave... as he lived, so he died..."