Rev. Gerard C. Hayes

Father Gerard Charles Hayes, age 81, of Houma, Louisiana passed away Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at his residence. Father Hayes was born October 19, 1931 in Boston, Massachusetts, son of the late John J. and Mary J. (Kane) Hayes. Father Hayes was educated at Holy Trinity in Roxbury, MA, Commerce High in Boston, MA, Oblate Prep School in Newburgh, NY, Saint John’s Seminary, Brighton, MA and Notre Dame Seminary In New Orleans, LA. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston on June 4, 1960. After ordination, he returned to New Orleans to serve as Parochial Vicar of Saint Louis King of France in Metairie from 1960 to 1965, Saint Genevieve in Thibodaux from 1965 to 1966 and Saint Leo the Great in New Orleans from 1966 to 1970. He then would serve as Pastor of Holy Family in Grand Caillou from 1970 to 1972 and Saint Anthony of Padua in Bayou Black from 1972 until his retirement in 2005. Father Hayes originally came to the Archdiocese of New Orleans to study theology as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Boston and a member of the Society of Saint James the Apostle. After his ordination, Father Hayes returned to the Archdiocese of New Orleans as a missionary Priest and after completing his five years of service for the Saint James Society, he was invited by Archbishop Philip Hannan to be incardinated in the Archdiocese. When the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux was instituted in June 1977, Father Hayes who was serving as pastor of Saint Anthony in Bayou Black chose to remain in the newly formed Diocese and served until his retirement. Father Hayes is preceded in death by his parents and eight siblings: Ann Haegeman, John Hayes, Denise (Billy) Hayes, Jane Waring, Joseph (Joe) Hayes, James (Jimmy) Hayes, Mary Soellner and Teresa Kopps. Father is survived by many nieces and nephews and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews. The Wake will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Bayou Black from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 26, 2013 at Saint Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux at 10:00 AM. There will be a Wake from 8:00 AM until Funeral time. Father Hayes will be interred in the “Priests Tomb” in Saint Joseph Cemetery in Thibodaux. Father Hayes faithfully lived out the priesthood for nearly 53 years. He loved the priesthood and encouraged others to pray for an increase in priestly vocations. In his memory, please pray for our Priests and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and throughout the world.