Eternal Rest, Father Louie

"And so, Fr. Louis Solcia, C.R.S.P., passes from the scene, aged 91 years. This was a priest of extraordinary personal charisma, a true believer in the supernatural reality of the Catholic faith, and a unique credit to the Clerks Regular of St Paul. Lux aeterna luceat ei, Domine. Requiescat in pace. St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, St. Philip Neri, and St. Padre Pio, pray for him." - Fratellino

After over 30 years of serving the Barnabite (C.R.S.P.) church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Little Italy, San Diego, Father Louie has passed into the next life on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at 3:30 a.m. to meet Our Lord. We pray especially that Our Lord may have mercy upon his poor soul and reward him for his merits on the Last Day, and that if he must endure the cleansing of Purgatory, that the Saints above pray unceasingly for his quick entry into Heaven. 

The Last Judgement at Our Lady of the Rosary

The Office of the Dead is a powerful prayer for the repose of departed souls. As Father Louie was a priest, his Collect reads as follows:

Deus, qui inter apostolicos sacerdotes famulum tuum Ludovicum sacerdotali fecisti dignitate vigere: praesta, quaesumus; ut eorum quoque perpetuo aggregetur consortio. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.

O God, who among the apostolic priests made thy servant Louis to flourish in priestly dignity: grant, we beseech thee; that their association may also be perpetually united. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

c. 1950

Born near Milan on November 15, 1931, during the reign of Milanese Pope Pius XI, Louis Mary Solcia was inspired to become a priest by his uncle Fr. Enrico Solcia, P.I.M.E., who was a missionary priest in India under the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions. He enrolled at the Barnabite seminary at age 14 and was ordained as a priest in the Clerks Regular of Saint Paul at age 26 on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. After years of being transferred across North America to teach at schools and minister to parishes, Fr. Louie was appointed associate pastor at Our Lady of the Rosary in 1991. During his three decades of service in Little Italy, Fr. Louie promoted devotion to Padre Pio, inspired vocations to the priesthood (including a current priest in the F.S.S.P.), and served as a confessor to both clergy and laity alike. He was also chaplain to many lay groups across San Diego and taught classes on history and Scripture both at the parish and through Facebook livestreams. Father's notability is emphasized by his presence among the "famous Italians" banners attached to street lamps throughout Little Italy, placing him among the likes of Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Antonin Scalia.

Fr. Louie's banner on Google Street View

Even in the face of persecution for upholding the moral teaching of the Church, Fr. Louie stood firm against pressure to offer a Funeral Mass for a lapsed Catholic who lived in public sin.  

Father is shown walking past a street lamp

Members of Chorus Breviarii can testify to Father offering Traditional Low Mass at times, and Fr. Louie was certainly not a stranger to the activities of the Brothers. During the Seven Churches Tour of 2012, Fr. Louie was among the clerics who joined in the Eucharistic procession between Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Joseph's Cathedral. Father was likely familiar with the Precious Blood Robes of the Brothers in San Diego, having seen them worn during both the Seven Churches Tour and the annual Eucharistic procession at the Little Italy Festa. 

The Brothers and the faithful of San Diego will certainly miss the presence of Fr. Louie. After his funeral in San Diego, he will be buried at the Barnabite complex in Lewiston, NY. Please pray for him so that he may soon become our intercessor in Heaven, and that, if he does indeed hear our prayers, through his intercession we may join him with Christ and all the Saints. 

Father at the Thanksgiving Mass of
Rev. Fr. David Lopez, F.S.S.P. (2022)

Recently ordained Fr. Lopez
gives a blessing to Fr. Louie

Courtesy: Shaun, Fr. Louie's Facebook page, Peg Demetris, The Southern Cross