Retired Father Paul Hulsman served in parishes and high schools

Criterion staff report

Father Paul Hulsman, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, died on Feb. 28 at his home in Louisville, Ky. He was 90.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on March 8 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Louisville by retired Louisville Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz.

Burial followed in a family section at Calvary Cemetery in Louisville.

Paul Edward Hulsman was born on Feb. 28, 1932, in Indianapolis, where he grew up as a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

He became an archdiocesan seminarian after graduating from the eighth grade and received priestly formation at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Formation in St. Meinrad from 1946-54, and the Catholic University of America in Washington from 1954-58.

Archbishop Paul C. Schulte ordained Father Hulsman to the priesthood on May 3, 1958, at the Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln in St. Meinrad. Father Hulsman celebrated his first Mass at St. Raphael the Archangel Church in Louisville the following day.

His first pastoral assignment was as assistant pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bloomington, serving there from 1958-59.

From 1959-60, Father Hulsman ministered as assistant pastor of the former St. Ann Parish and as an instructor at the former Archbishop Schulte High School, both in Terre Haute.

In 1960, he was assigned to serve as assistant pastor of Holy Angels Parish and as an instructor at Cathedral High School, both in Indianapolis.

In 1962, Father Hulsman began ministry as assistant pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish in Indianapolis while continuing as an instructor at Cathedral High School.

Beginning in 1964, he began service as an instructor at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis while continuing as assistant pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish.

In 1970, Father Hulsman resigned from active priestly ministry with permission. He was allowed to return to active ministry as a retired priest in 2015. Since then, he celebrated daily Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Louisville and assisted in prison ministry.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Catholic Relief Services, 228 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, MD 20201-3443, or at crs.org. †