Fr. Arthur Wendel, C.Ss.R Obituary

Rev. Arthur Wendel, C.Ss.R.

4/2/33 – 7/26/23

Father Arthur Wendel, C.Ss.R., of the St. John Neumann Community, Stella Maris, Timonium, MD, died on July 26, 2023, age 90 and four months. Father Wendel was born and raised in the shadow of the Redemptorists’ former Church of the Most Holy Redeemer on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He grew up to become its pastor. Born in New York City, April 2, 1933, to Maximillian and Elizabeth (Braun), he was baptized and confirmed at Most Holy Redeemer, where he also attended the parish school. He went on to St. John’s University in New York, from which he graduated in 1954 with a BA in history. He entered the Redemptorists on an “initiation year” (1954-1955) and professed temporary vows the following year on August 2, 1956, at St. Mary’s in Ilchester, Maryland. He professed perpetual vows on September 2, 1959, at Mt. St. Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, NY, where he was also ordained to the priesthood on June 21, 1959. 

He was sent for further graduate studies in history at the Catholic University of America (MA in US History, 1960-1962) and took an additional baccalaureate degree in music at Manhattanville College in 1969. While in studies, he was assigned to Holy Redeemer College, Washington, DC, between 1960 and 1962 and then taught history and music at St. Mary’s Minor Seminary in North East, PA, between 1962 and 1973. After parish work at St. Clement’s in Saratoga Springs, NY (1973-1978), he returned to his home parish of Most Holy Redeemer as its rector from 1978 to 1984 where he cultivated a bilingual inner-city ministry that helped carry the neighborhood through tough economic times. In 1984, he was made the rector of the Redemptorist major seminary in Esopus (1984-1985) and was the last rector there prior to its move to Washington, DC. In 1985, he continued his service as a teacher of future Redemptorists at St. Alphonsus College in Suffield, CT, where he taught music and history (1985-1990). He went back to parish ministry at St. Clement’s, Saratoga (1990-1992) before taking up retreat work at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua, NY (1992-1996). 

Upon his return to parish ministry at Most Holy Redeemer in 1997, he dove into AIDS ministry at Rivington House, at that time the largest house for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. Insofar as it was within the parish boundaries, Father Wendel was de facto chaplain. This pastoral service was of a piece with Father Wendel's overriding concern: the poor of the Lower East Side. He remained at his home parish until 2011, when he began to experience health problems. During his tenure at Most Holy Redeemer, he also founded the Alphonsian Center for Spirituality Through the Arts. This effort fostered spiritual growth through the arts, part of which involved the Liguorian Players, a theatrical group he co-founded in 2000. Father Wendel was also instrumental in developing a nascent program for Redemptorist lay missionaries at Most Holy Redeemer, the first of its kind in the Baltimore Province. 

Over the course of his teaching career, Fr. Wendel taught a generation of students to love music. His abilities have helped form parish cantors and musicians who have enhanced the worship experiences of tens of thousands of Catholics. As a sign of their affection for him, a group of former students regularly formed the schola at the annual jubilee Masses at Stella Maris. During his ministry at the St. John Neumann Residence (2013-2023), Father Wendel was often called upon to play the organ or lead the confreres in song.

The funeral arrangements for Father Arthur Wendel are as follows:

Services will take place at HOLY REDEEMER CHURCH at 173 East 3rd Street in Manhattan on Saturday on AUGUST 5, 2023.

Viewing:  9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Mass of Christian Burial:  10:30 AM