Jesuit Fr. Christopher Billac, N.O., native dies at 78

    Jesuit Father Christopher A. Billac, a native of New Orleans, died Oct. 3 at Ignatius Residence. He was 78 years and had been a Jesuit for 60 years and a priest for 47 years.
    A funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 8 at Holy Name of Jesus Church. Burial followed at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, La.
    Father Billac graduated from Jesuit High School in 1952 and entered the Jesuit novitiate on Aug. 14, 1952.
    He received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1958 and a master’s degree in philosophy in 1959 from Spring Hill College.
    He taught at Jesuit in 1961-62. He was ordained a priest at St. Joseph Church in Mobile on June 7, 1965.
    He earned a licentiate in Sacred Theology at St. Mary’s  College in 1967 and a master’s degree in classical languages from Loyola University Chicago in 1968.
    He earned a doctorate in Neo-Latin literature at Pacific Western University. Father  Billac taught at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and at Jesuit High in Tampa, Fla. He was alumni chaplain at Strake Jesuit from 1999-2012.
    Father Billac is survived by his adopted family: Mat Grau Sr.; Judy and Andrew Meibaum; Gary and Mary Ann Grau, Mat and Leah Grau Jr.; Jean Ann Boudreaux; and Ginger and Frank Szczepanski. Donations may be made  to the Senior Jesuit Fund of “The Jesuits,” 710 Baronne St., Ste. B., New Orleans, La. 70113.