Monsignor Schumacher in 2018 preaching at the Boise Cathedral. (ICR Photos)
By Emily Woodham
ICR Staff Writer
Monsignor Andrew J. Schumacher, who served in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise for 64 years, died July 14 in Boise. He was 90.
Monsignor Andy, as he was affectionately known, was born at home to Leo Frank Schumacher and Mary Antonia (Schmidt) Schumacher on March 18, 1934, in Greencreek, Idaho. He was the youngest of a family of four boys and four girls.
He attended Greencreek Elementary and High School, both staffed by the Benedictine women Religious from the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood. In high school, he lettered in basketball, baseball and football and graduated as the valedictorian in May of 1952.
In September of that year, he entered the seminary at the Benedictine Monastery in Mount Angel, Ore. Father Andy attended Mount Angel Seminary for two years and then transferred to St. Edward’s Seminary at Kenmore, Wash. He graduated from St. Edward’s with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in the spring of 1956.
In March of 1956, Father Andy was selected by Bishop Edward J. Kelly to attend the North American College in Rome for his last four years of theological studies, 1956–1960.
Father Andy was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on Dec. 20, 1959, by Archbishop Martin J. O’Connor, the rector of the North American College in Rome. While in Rome, he met St. Padre Pio, who adopted Father Andy as one of his spiritual sons. Father Andy felt truly blessed by this encounter. Throughout his ministry, he had a great devotion to St. Pio, the patron saint of healing and good health.
He returned to Idaho on July 5, 1960. His first permanent assignment was at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Lewiston. After three years, he was assigned to the University of Idaho campus as the first full-time chaplain in 1963.
Monsignor Schumacher in Rome where he attended the North American College.
In 1965, Bishop Sylvester W. Treinen asked Father Andy to design and build a church at the university. Schumacher incorporated instruction from the Second Vatican Council into the architecture of what became St. Augustine Student Center, making it a landmark on the U of I campus.
In May 1974, Father Andy was appointed rector of St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in Boise, where he served for ten years. He was then assigned to St. James Parish in Lewiston, where he served for four years, 1984–1988. His stay at St. James Parish was cut short when he was asked to fill a pastoral vacancy at St. Pius X Parish in Coeur d’Alene. He served as pastor of St. Pius X for seven years, 1988–1995.
Construction of St. Augustine Student Center in Moscow, April 1967.
After 11 years in northern Idaho, Father was called south to St. Mary’s Parish in Boise in July 1995. Three years later, he was assigned pastor at St. Mary’s Parish in Cottonwood in 1998. When the pastor of St. Anthony’s parish in Greencreek and Assumption Parish in Ferdinand died in October of 2000, Assumption Parish and St. Anthony Parish were attached to St. Mary’s in Cottonwood to form a Tri-Parish. He was the pastor of this Tri-Parish until July 1, 2004, when he retired from active ministry.
In Nov. 2008, Pope Benedict XVI made him a “Prelate of Honor” with the title of monsignor. The honor was bestowed upon him by Bishop Michael P. Driscoll on Feb. 2, 2009.
Monsignor Andy retired in Lewiston but remained active in various ways in the Diocese of Boise. He served on the Presbyteral Council for 15 consecutive years. He was also a “Minister to Priests,” which included visiting homebound and elderly priests. He served on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of Idaho for ten years. He also began the All-Abilities Mass in Idaho for people with physical challenges and their families.
He will be remembered for his compassion for couples who suffered miscarriages or struggled with infertility. He strongly believed that every birth is a miracle. He would send a letter to couples who asked for prayer and remind them to “expect a miracle.” Many “miracle” babies were born.
Reflecting on his life as a priest, Monsignor Andy expressed gratitude to God for having been a priest during the Second Vatican Council. He shared that it was a most exciting time because the Council encouraged greater inclusivity and emphasized more participation of the laity.
Monsignor is survived by his sister-in-law, Margie Schumacher, his remaining 50 nephews and nieces and their families, as well as cousins in Idaho and Illinois.
His funeral Mass was celebrated on July 23 at All Saints Parish in Lewiston. Donations may be made to the charities most important to Monsignor Andy: the Clergy or Priest Retirement Fund of the Diocese of Boise; the Idaho Catholic Charity Foundation-Campus Ministry Kasista Fund; Catholic Charities of Idaho; the Monastery of St. Gertrude’s, Cottonwood; or the Idaho Catholic Foundation Bishop Treinen Memorial Fund.
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