Jesuit Father Louis Poché, teacher

Jesuit Father Louis A. “Doc” Poché, who served as a high school teacher, university chaplain, retreat master and pastor, died Feb. 7 at the Jesuit retirement community in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. He was 91 years old, a Jesuit for 74 years and a priest for 61 years.

Father Poché was known for his charity and his care for others, especially the sick and aged. His Funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 18 at St. Charles College Chapel in Grand Coteau. Burial was at the Jesuit Cemetery at St. Charles College.

Father Poché was born at Welham Plantation in Hester, Louisiana, one of eight sons of Louis Aristée Poché and Lydia Keller Poché. He grew up in Convent, Louisiana, and was bilingual in French and English. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Raymond and Anthony Poché. He is survived by his brothers Leon, James, Neal, Jay and John, as well as a large extended family.

After graduating from Jesuit High School in New Orleans, he entered the Society of Jesus on Aug. 14, 1942, at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau. He professed first vows in 1944 and was ordained to the priesthood at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, on June 14, 1955.

Father Poché taught theology for a year at Loyola University New Orleans and on two occasions at Jesuit College Preparatory in Dallas. In 1960, he moved back to Loyola New Orleans, where he fulfilled many roles at various times: theology teacher, chaplain of the pharmacy school, chaplain of the music school and university chaplain.

He joined fellow Jesuits in offering a New Orleans-based “Clergy and Religious Counseling Service.” After three years, he was assigned to serve as associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish in New Orleans (1976-78).

He then served for 13 years in Grand Coteau, as assistant pastor at St. Charles Church, director at Our Lady of the Oaks, superior and director at St. Charles College and pastor at St. Charles Church.

In 1991, he was superior of Ignatius Residence for older Jesuits in New Orleans. From 1998-2007, he served in the River Road parishes of the Baton Rouge Diocese. In 2007, he became a resident at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center. He moved to St. Alphonsus Rodríguez Pavilion, the Jesuit retirement community, in December 2016.

Memorial gifts may be made to the USA Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus at 4511 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108 or online at http://jesuitscentralsouthern.org.