Fr. Carl B. Trutter, O.P. (1933-2020)

Fr. Carl B. Trutter, O.P., was born in Springfield, IL, on September 19, 1933. He died peacefully on March 25, 2020, at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at 10:00 am at St. Dominic Church in New Orleans, 775 Harrison Avenue, New Orleans, LA  70124.

Fr. Carl was originally a member of the Province of St. Albert the Great. Fr. Carl professed simple vows on Aug. 31, 1954, in Winona, MN, and was ordained to the Priesthood on June 4, 1960. Fr. Carl joined the Province of St. Martin de Porres when it was founded in 1979.

Fr. Carl held the following degrees: B.A. in Liberal Arts from Loras College in River Forest, IL; B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy and an M.A. in Theology from Aquinas Institute in River Forest, IL, and a D.Rel. from The Chicago Theological Seminary.

Fr. Carl’s first assignment was as Parochial Vicar at Holy Rosary Parish in Houston. In 1964, Fr. Carl moved to Chicago where he served as Provincial Director for the Dominican Laity. He became Director of Field Education at Aquinas Institute in Dubuque, IA, in 1971.

From 1973-77, Fr. Carl had his first experience as a Campus Minister at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Fr. Carl loved this ministry, serving at the University of Houston (1977-83), Vanderbilt University (1984-90), and Tulane University (2003-2006). In addition, Fr. Carl served as Provincial Promoter of Campus Ministry, and Director of Campus Ministry for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

In 1993 Fr. Carl served as Socius and Vicar Provincial for nine years. His final assignments were as Parochial Vicar for St. Joseph Parish in Ponchatoula, LA, (2006-2008), and in Irving, TX, where he did supply work from 2008-2011.

In 2011, Fr. Carl moved to Our Lady of Wisdom Health Care Center in New Orleans where he remained until his death.


In place of flowers or other gifts, a donation in honor of Fr. Carl B. Trutter, O.P. can be made at this link.

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