Jesuit Father Michael Bouzigard, N.O. native

Jesuit Father Michael A. Bouzigard, a native of New Orleans, died Dec. 1 in San Antonio, Texas. He was 56 years old and had served as a Jesuit for 29 years and a priest for 19 years.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 8 in the Church of St. Charles Borromeo in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. Burial followed in the Jesuit cemetery.

Father Bouzigard was the son of Dr. Ray Bouzigard and Yvonne Duet Bouzigard. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sisters, Maria Bowes and Aimée Bouzigard, and his brothers David, Jon and Paul Bouzigard. He was preceded in death by his brother Gary Bouzigard.

Following his graduation from Duke University, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in economics and biology in 1986 and a master’s degree in international economics in 1988, he experienced a growing interest in the priesthood. He entered the Jesuit novitiate in Grand Coteau, on Aug. 14, 1991, and pronounced first vows on Aug. 15, 1993. He was ordained a priest at Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Orleans on June 9, 2001.

After completing his doctorate at Oxford University, Father Bouzigard was missioned to Loyola University New Orleans in 2006 for one year. From 2007-12, he served in a variety of ministries, including as a fellow at the Jesuit Social Research Institute at Loyola University New Orleans; teacher of Latin American/Caribbean studies and Catholic theology at Loyola; professor of theology and applied economics/development at the Central American University in Managua, Nicaragua; associate pastor at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Grand Coteau and at Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Orleans.

In January 2013, he was missioned to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in San Antonio as pastor and superior. In 2017, he was appointed vicar forane (dean) of the West Urban Vicariate and an adjunct spiritual director at Assumption Seminary of the San Antonio Archdiocese.

In January 2019, he began a new appointment as formator for priests and deacons of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and was a sought-after spiritual director among the seminarians.