Obituaries

Those who knew Father Witthauer said the priest was devoted to his parishioners and had a gift for being present for them. “I think Father Paul just wanted to give people the priesthood,” said Father T. Austin Murphy Jr., a former pastor of Our Lady of Hope and St. Luke in Edgemere.

Father Lesnick, remembered by friends and parishioners for his compassion, a heart-felt concern for helping others grow in holiness and a quiet, unassuming ministry, died Feb. 26. He was 71 and had previously suffered from heart problems and prostate cancer. He had led the small Carroll County faith community since 2015.

“He ended up mentoring a lot of people,” Father Proffitt said. “He met people where they were. He was one of those deacons who got people past the idea that ‘we have to have a priest for a wedding or a baptism.’ Even in retirement, he continued to faithfully serve the community.”

Deacon Frank Hodges, whose engineering expertise played an integral role in the restoration of Corpus Christi Church in Bolton Hill, died Jan. 11 at age 93.