A Mass of Christian Burial for Father John N. Folzenlogen, SJ, was to be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at St. Ignatius Hall at Garden Villas North in Florissant. Father Folzenlogen died March 31 in Florissant. He was 89 years old, a Jesuit for 72 years and a priest for 59 years.
John Folzenlogen was born in Dallas on April 29, 1935, to M.C. and Christine Hibbard Folzenlogen. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five siblings: Daniel, David, Gordon, Diane (Stanley) and Pat (Murphy). He is survived by his brother Paul and Paul’s wife, Jeanie.
Following his graduation from Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas in 1952, he entered the Society of Jesus at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau on July 30, 1952, and pronounced his first vows on July 31, 1954. He was ordained a priest on June 7, 1965, at St. Joseph Church in Mobile, Alabama, and pronounced final vows in the Society of Jesus at Jesuit High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Feb. 2, 1971.
Father Folzenlogen studied philosophy at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama (1956-59) and then earned a master’s degree in biology at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York (1959-60). For regency, he was missioned back to his alma mater, Dallas Jesuit (1960-62). He was missioned to St. Mary’s College in St. Marys, Kansas, for theology studies (1962-66), where he earned a licentiate in sacred theology.
Father Folzenlogen devoted most of his ministerial life to the apostolate of secondary education. He spent 15 years teaching biology and theology at Jesuit High in Shreveport, Louisiana (1967-82), now known as Loyola College Prep, and for 31 years, he was a beloved Jesuit at Strake Jesuit in Houston (1982-2013), first teaching science, then in the last decade concentrating on service to students as a counselor. During this time, he also provided sacramental ministry at the school and in many churches in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
When he left Houston, he served in pastoral ministry at Xavier Jesuit Center in Denver (2013-15).
Declining health dictated a move to the Fusz Pavilion in St. Louis (2015-22), followed by St. Ignatius Hall (2023-25).
Burial will be at the Jesuit cemetery at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, Louisiana.
