Fr. WosmanThe funeral Mass for Father Richard Wosman, SM, was scheduled for Jan. 25 at St. Alban Roe Church in Wildwood. Father Wosman died suddenly Jan. 21. He was 59 years old, a priest for 25 years and a professed member of the Society of Mary since 1981.
A native St. Louisan, Father Wosman was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School, where he first encountered the Marianists. He received a bachelor’s degree in English and communications arts from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and master’s degrees in educational leadership from Saint Louis University and in divinity-theology from the Toronto School of Theology at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto.
His first assignment as a Marianist was at his high school alma mater, where he taught for three years (1981-84) in the first of three assignments in St. Louis. He also was principal/president 1994-2002 at St. John Vianney High School in Kirkwood and he was president of John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Manchester from 2015 until it closed in 2017.
In addition to his service at Kennedy, Father Wosman was part-time associate pastor at St. Alban Roe Parish in that time. After the closing of Kennedy, he became full-time associate, then went back to a part-time role this past year after becoming director of faith formation for secondary schools in the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education and Formation.
Father Wosman also served with distinction outside of the Archdiocese of St. Louis: in Canada and Texas. After his first stint in St. Louis, Father Wosman taught at St. Boniface Diocesan High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba (1984-89) and at Central Catholic High School in San Antonio (1993-94). After serving at Vianney, he was missioned back to Texas and joined the faculty of St. Mary’s University in 2002, serving as a professor until 2012; he also was the director of the university’s Catholic Leadership Programs (2004-13). He then was president of Central Catholic High School in San Antonio 2013-15 before returning to his hometown for the third time.
“Richard took great pride in his role as an educator and administrator,” his family stated. “He was always grateful for the many acts of kindness and mutual respect of his many students and fellow administrators during his years of service to others. He was thrilled to be a priest bringing the message of the Gospels into classrooms and boardrooms throughout his career.”
Father Wosman is survived by five siblings: sisters Mary Frances Saranita, Pat Clary and Sue Schwent; and brothers James and John.