With faith in the Resurrection of Jesus, we offer our prayers for Reverend Philip A. Hoffmann who entered eternal life on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the age of 85.
Fr. Hoffmann was born on November 12, 1937, in Clintonville to George H. and Marie (Grawey) Hoffmann. He graduated from high school at St. Lawrence Seminary, Mt. Calvary and continued to study philosophy and theology at St. Meinrad Seminary, Indiana, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.
Fr. Hoffmann was ordained into the priesthood by Bishop Stanislaus V. Bona on May 16, 1964, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay. He joined his cousin, Fr. Charles Hoffmann, as a diocesan priest. He celebrated his first Solemn Mass at St. Rose Parish, Clintonville, WI, May 17, 1964.
He began his ministry at St. Lawrence Parish, Navarino. He also served as Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, Manawa, St. Rose Parish, Clintonville, St. Joseph Parish, Oconto, St. Patrick Parish, Green Bay, St. Joseph Parish, Green Bay, St. Francis Xavier Parish, De Pere, and St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay from 1969 to 1976.
Fr. Hoffmann served as Director of the Diocesan Housing Office, which helped with apartments for the elderly and homes for low-income families throughout the diocese. He also served as Temporary Administrator of St. Peter Parish, Oconto, where he also became Pastor there from 1972 to 1976, while serving as Temporary Administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Oconto from 1974 to 1976.
Fr. Hoffmann also served as Pastor of St. Paul Parish, Manitowoc, from 1976 to 1985 and then Pastor of Holy Cross Parish, Kaukauna, from 1985 to 1986. Fr. Hoffmann served as a Diocesan Tribunal staff member and was named Defender of the Bond for Tribunal from 1989 to 2002 and served as the Vicar for Senior Priests. From 1989 to 2002, he was appointed Ecumenical Officer for the Diocese of Green Bay. After an extended leave, he entered senior priest status in 2007.
Fr. Philip is survived by his adopted son, Trung (Thuy) Nguyen; grandchildren: Thomas, Tran, Philip and Dominic; 5 siblings: Robert (the late Sharon) Hoffmann, Clintonville, WI, Raymond (the late Sharon) Hoffman, Brookfield, WI, Sharon (Jerome) Dreger, Kaukauna, WI, Michael (Linda) Hoffman, Ithaca, NY and Mary Hoffmann, Camano Island, WA; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Sr. Mary de Sales, Manitowoc, WI and a brother, Daniel Hoffmann, Oak Creek, WI.
Visitation for Fr. Hoffmann will be held at St. Rose Parish (27 7th St. Clintonville, WI), Thursday, April 13, 2023 from 1 to 3 PM. The Funeral Liturgy, expressing our faith and our hope in the promised glory of the Lord’s Resurrection, will follow the visitation at 3 PM at the church. Burial will be in St. Rose Cemetery. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.NewcomerGreenBay.com.
Fr. Hoffmann’s family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude to the numerous people who assisted in so many ways over this past year.