- Date Of Birth: February 7, 1923
- Date Of Death: January 22, 2014
- State: Michigan
Reverend James. J. Schmitt
Lansing, MI
Father Schmitt passed gently on Wednesday the 22nd, into the arms of the Lord he served for more 60 years. Father was born Feb. 7, 1923 to Frank A. Schmitt & Catherine McKeon. He attended St. Mary’s School graduating in 1941, then enrolled as a seminarian at St. Joseph’s in Grand Rapids, followed with further studies at St. Gregory’s, St. Mary’s Harwood in Cincinnati and finished his Theological education at St. John’s Provincial Seminary, Plymouth, Mi. in 1951. Father Jim as he was known by Parishioners and Father Mac by family members was Ordained at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Lansing by Bishop Joseph H. Albers on June 2, 1951
Fr. Mac began his vocation in the summer of 1951 with his first appointment to St. Augustine’s in Kalamazoo, followed by appointments to St. Paul’s, Owosso, St. Mary’s, Jackson, St. Agnes, Flint and St. Roberts in Flushing.
Wherein after he was given his first pastoral appointment at St. John Bosco, Mattawan (with misson parish arm of St. Margaret Mary, Marcellus). Father Jim was also a builder and realized his dream when he built a brand new Parish, St. Catherine of Siena in Portage 1966 (although it would never be public knowledge, he named this new parish in honor of his mother Catherine). His career continued for 20 more years serving the Lord as Pastor of St. Mary’s, Westphalia and St. Mary’s, Morrice, where he retired June 30, 1991.
In retirement Father Schmitt assisted at Good Shepherd, Montrose, Most Holy Trinity, Fowler, St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Michaels, Grand Ledge, St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing and many other parishes when needed. In addition to his many appointments Father also proudly served as a Chaplain in the Michigan National Guard from 1959 to 1965 where he retired with rank of Major.
Father died, Wednesday the 22nd of January, 2014. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Francis and his wife Naomi, his sister, Rosarita and her husband Max Frisosky.
Father is survived by nephews, Timothy Frisosky, Douglas Schmitt (wife Becky), Thomas Schmitt (wife Barbara), Francis A. Schmitt (wife Mary), & William Schmitt.
Father wished to thank God for his 60 years of service as a priest. Also his high school classmates with whom he met each third Tuesday, for lunch for many, many years.
My life has been enriched by my family and a host of friends in the Lansing and Kalamazoo Dioceses and for that, I have been forever grateful. My special thanks to Keith and Rosemary Neller, Deloris Mandeville and Family, Elizabeth Chamos. Also my heartfelt thanks to Bishops Joseph Albers, Alexander Zaleski, Kenneth Povish, Carl Mengeling and Earl Boyea under whom I served.
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