CHICAGO (April 2, 2004) - Fr. Matthias Hoffman, pastor emeritus of St. Casimir Parish, a Chicago Heights parish that is now closed, died Thursday, April 1, 2004, of heart failure at Resurrection Hospital. He was 88 years old and had been living at St. Benedict Home in Niles.

Ordained by Cardinal Stritch in 1940, Fr. Hoffman’s first assignment was at St. Mary Parish in Riverdale, where he served for four years as an assistant pastor.
In 1944, Fr. Hoffman began a 16-year teaching career at Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He also served as a spiritual director to the high school students there. Fr. Hoffman taught English and modern languages at the seminary. He had an M.A. degree in English from Loyola University. He studied German at the University of Bonn, Germany, French at the University of Laval in Quebec, Canada and Spanish in Mexico.

Fr. Hoffman also taught at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein for six years beginning in 1961. He was made pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Parish in 1966 and served there for 13 years before being made pastor of St. Casimir in Chicago Heights.

Fr. Hoffman retired in 1986 and was made pastor emeritus of St. Casimir that year.

Visitation for Fr. Hoffman will take place at Infant Jesus of Prague Church, 1131 Douglas Ave., Flossmoor, on Sunday, April 4, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., will be the main celebrant at a funeral Mass for Fr. Hoffman on Monday, April 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Infant Jesus of Prague.
Interment will be at Mount Olivet in St. Casimir Cemetery, 4401 W. 111th St., Chicago.