The Byzantine Forum
Newest Members
FireOfChrysostom, mashoffner, wietheosis, Deb Rentler, RusynRose
6,208 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
1 members (San Nicolas), 2,722 guests, and 139 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Latest Photos
St. Sharbel Maronite Mission El Paso
St. Sharbel Maronite Mission El Paso
by orthodoxsinner2, September 30
Holy Saturday from Kirkland Lake
Holy Saturday from Kirkland Lake
by Veronica.H, April 24
Byzantine Catholic Outreach of Iowa
Exterior of Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Parish
Church of St Cyril of Turau & All Patron Saints of Belarus
Forum Statistics
Forums26
Topics35,542
Posts417,792
Members6,208
Most Online4,112
Mar 25th, 2025
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 31
John
Member
John
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 31
Rev. Father Ellis Louis DePriest, S.M. died before dawn on Friday, February 6, 2009 at Ochsner Medical Center.

Father DePriest was born in Jackson, Mississippi on October 23, 1926, the son of Ellis L. DePriest, Sr., Julia Underwood DePriest and stepmother Clothilde L. DePriest.

At age 14, he began his studies with the Marist Society of Priests and Brothers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fr. DePriest then attended the Marist Novitiate at Our Lady of the Elms in Staten Island, New York and professed his first vows in the Society of Mary on September 8, 1947. He was ordained a Priest on February 1, 1953 by Bishop Michael J. Keys, S.M. He earned a Master's Degree in Liturgical Music in 1956 and also obtained a Master's Degree in Liturgical Studies from Catholic University in 1971. From 1974 to 1981, he was a professor of Liturgical Studies at Notre Dame Seminary. Fr. DePriest served as assistant at Holy Name of Mary Parish in Algiers, Louisiana from 1981-1982. He later returned as Pastor until 1996. He remained active in many ways, especially his Ministry as the Pastor of the St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church.

Fr. DePriest was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his brother, Clifford DePriest of Alexandria; niece Jennifer DePriest Shamblin of Pineville; and a nephew Jody DePriest of Metairie. Fr. DePriest had many extended family members through his ministry with special thanks to Karen and Greg Haddad of Houma.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Funeral Mass at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, Algiers, on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 10 a.m. with Archbishop Schott in attendance. Interment in St. Bartholomew Cemetery, Algiers.

The wake will be Monday, February 9, 2009 at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. and on Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. This will be a Byzantine-Ruthenian wake service presided over by Most Rev. Basil Schott, O.F.M., the Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh. Memorial donation and Mass intentions may be made to the Marist Society, 4408 8th Street, NE, Washington, D.C., 20017-2298 or St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1359, Gray, LA 70359-1359, 504-861-0806, stnicholasnola@yahoo.com. MOTHE FUNERAL HOMES in charge of arrangements. Funeral information: 366-4343

May the Lord God grant to His priestly servant, Elias, a blessed repose.

Vičnaja jemu pamjat!
Eternal Memory!

Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,225
Likes: 1
Member
Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,225
Likes: 1
May his memory be eternal, may he rest in peace...

Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,461
Likes: 1
Member
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,461
Likes: 1
Everlasting memory. Any word on who will be taking care of St. Nicholas?

Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,028
A
Member
Member
A Offline
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,028
Eternal memory. And what a wonderful name!!!

Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 616
Member
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 616
May the Lord God grant to his newly departed and priestly servant +Ellis, blessed repose, where there is no pain sorrow or mourning, but only light and life everlasting! May his memory be eternal!

I was fortunate that while visiting St Nicholas, that Father Ellis asked me to serve as deacon at the Divine Liturgy.

I remember his warmth and friendliness, which carried over to the parish faithful. My wife and I were well received.

He will be in my prayers,
Deacon El

Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,964
T
Member
Member
T Offline
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,964
Eternal memory!

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,725
Likes: 2
B
Member
Member
B Offline
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,725
Likes: 2
Eternal memory.

Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,930
Member
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,930
Memory Eternal+

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4
N
Junior Member
Junior Member
N Offline
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4
Just a note to add about Fr. Ellis...

Aside from being just a nice guy and wonderful priest in general...He Baptized, Chrismated, and gave Holy Eucharist to our 3 oldest girls in New Orleans- 27, 25, and 23 yrs ago respectively. He married our oldest daughter there at St. Nicholas, and Baptized, Chrismated and gave Holy Eucharist to our youngest son, now 3 1/2. It would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, for us to have our Byzantine Tradition. He help my DH fall in love with the Eastern Rite (and he formally transferred over from the Latin Rite in 1990). Though I am sad he will not be able to "preside" over our Vow renewal for our 30th Anniversary (in two yrs), I am glad he has finally gone to his true home.

We will miss Fr. DePriest.

Eternal Memory indeed!

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,217
Likes: 2
L
Member
Member
L Offline
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,217
Likes: 2

Eternal Memory.

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 10,090
Likes: 16
Global Moderator
Member
Global Moderator
Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 10,090
Likes: 16
May the memory of the Lord's servant, the Priest Elias, be eternal


"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."

Link Copied to Clipboard
The Byzantine Forum provides message boards for discussions focusing on Eastern Christianity (though discussions of other topics are welcome). The views expressed herein are those of the participants and may or may not reflect the teachings of the Byzantine Catholic or any other Church. The Byzantine Forum and the www.byzcath.org site exist to help build up the Church but are unofficial, have no connection with any Church entity, and should not be looked to as a source for official information for any Church. All posts become property of byzcath.org. Contents copyright - 1996-2025 (Forum 1998-2025). All rights reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0