Retired Madison auxiliary, Bishop George Wirz passed away

Let's pray for the soul of Bishop George Wirz who passed away this morning.  He was auxiliary in Madison from 1978-2004.  He was staying at the Bishop O'Connor Center in Madison.

Requiescat in pacem.

Funeral for Madison Former Auxiliary Bishop George O. Wirz is Tuesday, November 30, Feast of St Andrew, 11a.m., St. Maria Goretti Parish Church, Madison.

HT JB

Update NBC15:

Statement from the Diocese of Madison:

(Madison) The Diocese of Madison, with sadness but a tremendous sense of hope, announces the death of Bishop George O. Wirz, Former Auxiliary of the Diocese of Madison. His passing occurred sometime earlier today, November 23, 2010.

Information of Note:
- Bishop Wirz was born on January 17, 1929 and was ordained a priest for the six-year-old Diocese of Madison in 1952.
- Father Wirz attended the First Session of the Second Vatican Council with Bishop William O’Connor.
- In 1963 was named Rector of the newly-opened Holy Name Seminary, in Madison.
- In March of 1978, Father Wirz was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop of Madison by the Second Bishop of Madison, Cletus O’Donnell.
- He took as his episcopal motto the words of the Lord’s Prayer “Adveniat regnum tuum” or “Thy Kingdom Come.” He served the Church, Her people and everyone he encountered with this prayer in his heart.
- He served as Auxiliary Bishop until his retirement in 2004.
- After his retirement Bishop Wirz continued in selfless service and prayer for the Diocese of Madison, offering Mass for groups around the diocese even in the last weeks of his life.

Bishop Robert C. Morlino, current Bishop of Madison, was notified immediately of Bishop Wirz’s passing and reflected that, “Bishop Wirz was a tremendous support and resource and a faithful brother to me, to Bishop William Bullock our Bishop Emeritus and, I know, to Bishops O’Connor and O’Donnell, our predecessors. He was certainly one of the most-beloved priests in our diocese and with his death we loose not only a man who lived the history of our diocese, but one who embodied the Gospel.”

Funeral arrangements are pending, and will most likely take place early next week. We ask all to pray for the repose of his soul. He was a happy and holy priest for almost 59 years and it is our great hope that today he has seen the Risen Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in Heaven. Eternal Rest Grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him.