Submitted by: Dan Rich

Br. Eligius (Walter) Ruscik CSC

Feb. 22, 1915 - Oct. 17, 2004

South Bend Tribune 10/18/2004                                        

Br. Eligius Ruscik CSC, 89, died in Dujarie House, Holy Cross Village, Notre Dame, Ind., on Sunday, Oct. 17, after a short illness. Br. Eligius was born Walter Ruscik on Feb. 22, 1915, in New Cumberland, W.Va., the son of Frank and Mary (Kwiedor) Ruscik. From 1921 until 1930, he attended St. Isidore Elementary School in Grand Rapids, Mich., and from 1930 until 1933, Catholic Central High School in the same city. In August of 1933 he entered the first stage in training for the brotherhood at Watertown, Wis., and six months later received the habit of the brothers at Rolling Prairie, Ind., pronouncing his first vows on Feb. 2, 1935, and his perpetual vows three years later.

Almost immediately following his final profession he was assigned to E. Bengal, at that time part of India, later separated as E. Pakistan, and finally as Bangladesh. He spent his first 21 years in Holy Cross teaching in schools in that Asian country: Holy Cross High School, Bandura; St. Gregory High School, Dhaka, and Ranikong Middle English School, Ranikong. In those days Holy Cross missionaries took home leave only every ten years, returning to the U.S. for a full year, during half of which they were expected to teach in one of the community's stateside schools. Br. Eligius took leave from 1948 until 1949, hurrying back to E. Pakistan in late 1949 to serve on the faculty and staff at St. Gregory's High School, Dhaka, for eight years. He came back to the States then for a portion of 1957, teaching at Sacred Heart College in Watertown. Returning to Bangladesh, he spent two more years at Holy Cross High School in Bandura before his health dictated his permanent return to the U.S. in 1959.

From 1959 until 1964, Br. Eligius taught at Archbishop Hoban High School, Akron, Ohio; and from 1964 until 1967 at St. Joseph's High School, South Bend, Ind. In 1967 he spent some months on the staff of the provincial office at Notre Dame. That same year he held a position on the staff of Columba Hall at Notre Dame. In 1971 he moved to Chicago to help the office staff at Holy Trinity High School. He remained at Trinity for five years, and in 1976 came to Le Mans Academy, Rolling Prairie, Ind., teaching there for the next 14 years. In 1990 he retired and moved to Columba Hall on the Notre Dame campus, where he remained until he transferred to Dujarie House.

Over the years Br. Eligius put stress especially on the development of the contemplative side of his life, enhancing his tendency to seek quiet, reflective, prayerful periods of meditation. These times were supported and enriched by the gardening he engaged in, contributing immensely to the beauty and attractiveness of the surroundings around the residence in which he lived. He held the needs of scores of persons and circumstances in his heart and brought them up regularly in the intercessory prayers at the Eucharistic Liturgy. He spent time whenever he could on retreat, recording in his daily journals God's action within his meek and generous soul. His mild and prayerful manner led some to take him for granted. When he in fact did leave for a retreat, his absence was immediately evident. Now, physically absent once again, Br. Eligius will no doubt continue to remember others in prayer. His spirit will live on through his work and his prayer, and never again will it be taken for granted.

Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 19, in St. Joseph's Chapel, the brothers' Holy Cross Village, 54515 St. Rd. 933. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. with internment immediately afterward at St. Joseph's Cemetery on the Village grounds. Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.