REVERAND ANDRé REX BROUSSARD JR.
Obituary for Reverend André Rex Broussard, Jr.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 3, 2021 at 10:00 am in the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist for the Reverend André Rex Broussard, Jr., 80, who died on Sunday, August 29, 2021.
The Most Reverend J. Douglas Deshotel, Bishop of Lafayette, will celebrate the funeral Mass, and the Reverend Michael Russo will serve as homilist. Lectors will be Angie Drobnic Holan and Mark Holan. Gift bearers will be Father Broussard’s sister and brother-in-law, Rita and Russell Thibodeaux, and pall bearers will be members of the Knights of Columbus from Saint Basil the Great Council 10721 from Judice.
Visitation will be in the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist on the morning of the funeral from 8:30 am until the time of the Mass. Interment will be in the Cathedral cemetery.
Father Rex Broussard served as a Roman Catholic priest for 54 years in the Diocese of Lafayette. He was also the former Brigade Chaplain of the National Guard 256th Brigade.
Father Broussard was born in 1941 in Abbeville and baptized at Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. In 1946 his family moved to Youngsville, where they became parishioners of Saint Anne Catholic Church. He discerned his vocation to the priesthood in the 5th grade and entered Immaculata Minor Seminary High School in 1955 at the age of 14. He completed his seminary studies at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Lafayette by Bishop Maurice Schexnayder in December 1966.
His first assignment in 1967 was Associate Pastor at Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Gueydan. In 1971 he moved to Saint Genevieve in Lafayette, where he served first as Associate Pastor and then as Co-Pastor. From 1977 to 1990, Father Broussard served as Pastor at Saint Joseph Church in Patterson, followed by pastorships at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Church Point (1990-1997); Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Leroy (1997-2004); and Saint Basil in Judice (2004 to 2018). He retired in 2018 at the age of 77.
Father Rex was devoted to his parishes. He loved liturgy and music, and he spent hours weekly in homily preparation. He mastered the art of a short, effective homily. He also developed and taught sacramental preparation programs for First Communion and Confirmation. He touched the lives of many individuals with his counsel in spiritual direction and in the confessional, as well as his frequent sick calls. He was an astute financial manager, and he managed the resources of his parishes well. On a diocesan level, Father Rex served briefly as a Tribunal advocate from 2000 to 2003.
Along with his service to his parishes in the Diocese of Lafayette, Father Broussard also served his country as a National Guard Chaplain for over 30 years. In 1969, as a young priest, he joined the National Guard 256th Infantry Brigade in Lafayette. He attended officer training school and entered the Guard as a 1st Lieutenant. Over the years, he periodically attended chaplains’ schools and completed military coursework, ultimately retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1999. After retirement, he served with the Louisiana State Guard until 2004. As the Brigade Chaplain of the 256th Brigade in Lafayette, he served as advocate for the troops and as a direct link between the troops and the commanding officer of the Brigade. He loved the time he spent with the troops during their annual three-week summer training and their monthly weekend drills. In November 1990 he was activated with the brigade and served during Desert Storm.
Along with his activities in his parishes and the National Guard, Father Rex painted icons. For over 20 years he regularly attended icon painting workshops with the Prosopon School of Iconology in Chatawa, MS and Grand Coteau, LA. Locally he painted under the direction of Faye Drobnic at St. Elizabeth Icon Studio in Lafayette. He was chaplain in residence at the icon studio after his retirement in 2018. His large icon of Saint Basil the Great is in Saint Basil Catholic Church in Judice.
Father Rex was preceded in death by his parents André Rex Broussard, Sr. and Cecile Bourque Broussard, his sister Annette Broussard, his brother Ned Paul Broussard, and his nephew Andre Shannon Thibodeaux. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law Rita and Russell Thibodeaux, his sister-in-law Brenda Trahan Broussard, and three nephews: Brian, Damian, and Travis Broussard. He is also survived by all of those whose lives he touched-his parishioners, his National Guard troops, and his fellow iconographers.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities of Acadiana, P.O. Box 3177, Lafayette, LA 70502 or Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St., Lafayette, LA 70503.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com
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