We have been notified by the Diocese of Gaylord of the death of Father Lawrence Kelleher on March 1, 2015. He was 92 years old.

Father Kelleher was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Gaylord on June 11, 1993. After his retirement, Fr. Kelleher returned to the Detroit area and continued to assist with sacramental ministry at many parishes.

Visitation will take place at Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, 2600 Crooks Road, Troy on Wednesday, March 4 with a Rosary at 7 p.m. and Thursday, March 5 from 5-8 p.m. with a Scripture Service at 7 p.m.

Father Kelleher will lie in repose on Friday, March 6 at Guardian Angels Parish Church, from 10 a.m. until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11 a.m.

Father Kelleher was predeceased by his parents and wife Margaret. He is survived by his daughters Kathy Loughrey, Nancy (Richard) Nurse, Mary (Alan) Silverman, Rosemary (Richard) Spankie. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Condolences may be sent to  Mary Silverman, 20126 Stamford, Livonia, MI 48152.

Please keep Father Kelleher and his family in your prayers.

We have received word of the death of Father Loren O'Dea, who passed on from this life on October 14, 2015, at the age of 87.

The O’Dea family will receive guests at the Heeney-Sunquist Funeral Home, 23720 Farmington Road in Farmington on Sunday, October 18 from 2-7 p.m., with scriptures at 4 p.m.

Father Loren's Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, October 19 at 11 a.m.. He will lie in repose at 10 a.m. at St. Damien of Molokai Parish (St. Michael Church), 120 Lewis Street in Pontiac. Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Pontiac.

Subsequent to a 2012 determination by the Archdiocese of Detroit that two allegations of sexual misconduct with minors prior to his ordination were substantive, Fr. O'Dea was permanently removed from public ministry.

Keep him in your prayers and include him in the Masses celebrated in accord with our renewed Mass Pact.

Our brother and fellow priest, Father John Canavan, passed on from this life on January 19, 2016 at the age of 89.

Father Canavan was born on December 21, 1926 in Dearborn, Michigan and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 4, 1955.

Father Canavan served for 27 years as pastor of St. Constance Parish, Taylor. He also served as associate pastor at St. Basil the Great Parish, Eastpointe; St. Cyril of Jerusalem Parish, Taylor; St. Lawrence Parish, Utica; St. Joseph Parish, Erie; and St. John the Baptist Parish, Monroe.

Visitation will take place at St. Constance Parish, 21555 Kinyon Street, Taylor, on Friday, January 22 from 2 - 9 p.m. A Rosary will be said at 7 p.m., and a Scripture service will follow.

Father Canavan will lie in repose on Saturday, January 23 at St. Constance Parish from 10 a.m. until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Father Canavan was predeceased by his parents. David and Ellen Canavan. Condolences may be sent to Mark Canavan c/o St. Constance Parish, 21555 Kinyon Street, Taylor, 48180.

Kindly include in the general intercessions of your weekend liturgies a prayer for the repose of the soul of Father Canavan. Keep him in your prayers and include him in the Masses celebrated in accord with our Archdiocesan Mass Pact.

Our brother and fellow priest, Father George Rutkowski, passed on from this life on February 27, 2016 at the age of 81.

Father Rutkowski was born on June 5, 1934 in Detroit, Michigan and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 4, 1960.

Father Rutkowski served 24 years as pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Detroit. He also served as associate pastor at St. Stanislaus Parish, Detroit; Corpus Christi Parish, Detroit; and St. Louis the King Parish, Detroit; and as administrator at St. Philip Neri Parish in Columbus, Michigan.

Visitation will take place at Wasik Funeral Home, 11470 Thirteen Mile Road (west of Hoover), Warren on Wednesday, March 2 from 2 - 9 p.m., with a Rosary at 7 p.m.

Father Rutkowski will lie in repose on Thursday, March 3, at St. Faustina Parish, 14025 Twelve Mile Road, Warren, from 9:30 a.m. until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Father Rutkowski was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Clara Rutkowski, and his brother, Myron Rutkowski. Condolences may be sent to Thomas Rutkowski, c/o Wasik Funeral Home, 11470 Thirteen Mile Road, Warren, 48093.

Kindly include in the general intercessions of your weekend liturgies a prayer for the repose of the soul of Father Rutkowski. Keep him in your prayers and include him in the Masses celebrated in accord with our Archdiocesan Mass Pact.

Our brother and fellow priest, Father Edward Konopka, passed on from this life on February 27, 2016 at the age of 96.

Father Konopka was born on July 22, 1919 in Detroit, Michigan and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on October 27, 1945.

Father Konopka served as pastor at St. Colman Parish, Farmington Hills; St. Michael Parish, Pontiac; St. Isidore Parish, Macomb Township; Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish, Detroit; and St. Alan Parish, Troy. He also served as associate pastor at SS. Peter and Paul (Westside) Parish, Detroit; Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Detroit; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wyandotte. He also served as administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish, Lapeer and St. Genevieve Parish, Livonia.

Father Konopka will lie in repose on Thursday, March 3, 2016, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 1401 Coral Ridge Drive, Coral Springs, Florida, from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., followed by the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery in North Lauderdale, Florida.

Father Konopka was predeceased by his parents and four siblings. He is survived by his sister, Sister Josetta Konopka, OSF, and his brother, Brother Leonard Konopka, MIC. Condolences may be sent to Brother Leonard Konopka, MIC, c/o St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 1401 Coral Ridge Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33071.

Kindly include in the general intercessions of your weekend liturgies a prayer for the repose of the soul of Father Konopka. Keep him in your prayers and include him in the Masses celebrated in accord with our Archdiocesan Mass Pact.

Our brother and fellow priest, Father George Rutkowski, passed on from this life on February 27, 2016 at the age of 81.

Father Rutkowski was born on June 5, 1934 in Detroit, Michigan and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 4, 1960.

Father Rutkowski served 24 years as pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Detroit. He also served as associate pastor at St. Stanislaus Parish, Detroit; Corpus Christi Parish, Detroit; and St. Louis the King Parish, Detroit; and as administrator at St. Philip Neri Parish in Columbus, Michigan.

Visitation will take place at Wasik Funeral Home, 11470 Thirteen Mile Road (west of Hoover), Warren on Wednesday, March 2 from 2 - 9 p.m., with a Rosary at 7 p.m.

Father Rutkowski will lie in repose on Thursday, March 3, at St. Faustina Parish, 14025 Twelve Mile Road, Warren, from 9:30 a.m. until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Father Rutkowski was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Clara Rutkowski, and his brother, Myron Rutkowski. Condolences may be sent to Thomas Rutkowski, c/o Wasik Funeral Home, 11470 Thirteen Mile Road, Warren, 48093.

Kindly include in the general intercessions of your weekend liturgies a prayer for the repose of the soul of Father Rutkowski. Keep him in your prayers and include him in the Masses celebrated in accord with our Archdiocesan Mass Pact.

Fraternally yours in the Lord,

The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron
Archbishop of Detroit

Our brother and fellow priest, Monsignor Edward Baldwin, passed on from this life on January 8, 2016 at the age of 85.

Monsignor Baldwin was born on January 29, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 4, 1955. After ordination he was sent to study at Fordham University in New York, where he earned a Masters degree. He also studied in Dublin, Ireland; Canberra, Australia; and Rome.

Monsignor Baldwin’s assignments included serving as pastor at St. Owen Parish, Bloomfield Hills; St. Michael Parish, Livonia; and St. John Neumann Parish, Canton. He also had served as associate pastor at St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Harper Woods and St. Mary of Redford Parish, Detroit. In addition, he served as Administrator of St. Rene Goupil Parish, Sterling Heights and St. Anne Parish, Warren. He served on the faculty of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, as Director of the Permanent Deacon Program and of Priestly Vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit, and as Director of the National Office of Vocations. He also served as chaplain to Camp Ozanam, CYO Boys Camp, and the Religious Sisters of Mercy at Mercy High School. After his retirement in 1999, Monsignor Baldwin served as Spiritual Director at Sacred Heart Major Seminary until 2012.

Monsignor Baldwin was named a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness in 1990. In 2001 he was presented with the Monsignor Albert Matyn Senior Priest Award, which recognizes priests with a special interest in Christian spirituality.

Visitation will take place at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 23815 Power, Farmington on Tuesday, January 12, from 2-8pm with a Scripture Service at 7pm.

Monsignor Baldwin will lie in repose on Wednesday, January 13 from 10am until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11am. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Monsignor Baldwin was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Mary Baldwin, and sister, Mary Edna Baldwin. Condolences may be sent to Monsignor Robert Monticello 14469 Levan Rd., Apt. A, Livonia, MI 48154. Donations may be made in memory of Monsignor Baldwin to St. Anne's Mead in Southfield, MI.

Kindly include in the general intercessions of your weekend liturgies a prayer for the repose of the soul of Monsignor Baldwin. Keep him in your prayers and include him in the Masses celebrated in accord with our Archdiocesan Mass Pact.

Our brother and fellow priest, Monsignor Russell Kohler, passed on from this life on March 25, 2016 at the age of 72.

Monsignor Kohler was born on November 12, 1943 in Monroe, Michigan and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on April 15, 1973. After ordination he studied at the University of Detroit.

Monsignor Kohler served as pastor at Most Holy Trinity Parish, Detroit; Ste. Anne de Detroit Parish, Detroit; St. David of Wales Parish, Detroit; and St. Aloysius Parish, Detroit. He also had served as associate pastor at St. Aloysius Parish, Detroit and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish, Detroit. He also served as administrator of St. Patrick Parish, White Lake; St. Joseph Parish, Detroit; and St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Newport. In addition, he served as chaplain to the Wayne County Sheriff's Department, the Apostleship of the Sea, and Detroit Medical Center Sinai-Grace Hospital.

Monsignor Kohler was named a Chaplain to His Holiness in December 2012.

Visitation will take place at Rupp Funeral Home, 2345 South Custer Road, Monroe on Wednesday, March 30 from 2- 8 p.m. Visitation will continue at Ste. Anne de Detroit Parish, 1000 Sainte Anne, Detroit on Thursday, March 31 from 2 p.m. until the celebration of Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Visitation will conclude on Friday, April 1 at Most Holy Trinity Parish, 1050 Porter Street, Detroit from 2 p.m. until the celebration of the funeral Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Monsignor Kohler was predeceased by his parents, Vernon and Mary Kohler; an infant sister, Susan; and a brother-in-law, Alan Miller. He is survived by his siblings Jacquelyn Miller; Polly (Douglas) Lovell; and Barney Kohler; and by a sister-in-law, Denise Kohler. Condolences may be sent to Jacquelyn Miller c/o Most Holy Trinity Parish, 1050 Porter Street, Detroit, MI 48226.

Kindly include in the general intercessions of your weekend liturgies a prayer for the repose of the soul of Monsignor Kohler. Keep him in your prayers and include him in the Masses celebrated in accord with our Archdiocesan Mass Pact.

In the News:

   Detroit Catholic pastor Msgr. Russell Kohler dies at 72 - Detroit Free Press
   Monsignor who died Good Friday, praised on Easter - Detroit Free Press
     Msgr. Russell Kohler remembered for compassion, service to his community - Gov. Rick Snyder
     Obituary - Rupp Funeral Home, Inc.

Our brother and fellow priest, Monsignor George Browne, passed on from this life on July 15, 2016 at the age of 85.

Monsignor Browne was born July 31, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 4, 1955.

Monsignor Browne’s assignments included serving as pastor at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish, Detroit; St. Benedict Parish, Waterford; and St. Angela Parish, Roseville. He also had served as associate pastor at Holy Cross Parish, Marine City; Precious Blood Parish, Detroit; St. Brigid Parish, Detroit; St. Joseph Parish, Detroit; and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish, Detroit. In addition, he served as Administrator of St. Barnabas Parish, Eastpointe; St. Augustine Parish, Richmond; All Saints Parish, Memphis; St. Mark Parish, Harsens Island; Holy Cross Parish, Marine City; St. Hubert Parish, Harrison Township; St. Kenneth Parish, Plymouth; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Emmett; and Our Lady on the River Parish, Marine City. He also served as Director of Alumni Relations at Sacred Heart Major Seminary from 2006 – 2012.

In 1991, Monsignor Browne was presented with the Cardinal Dearden Award to study in Louvain, Belgium. He was named a Chaplain to His Holiness in 2005.

Visitation will take place at Our Lady on the River Parish, 610 South Water Street, Marine City on Wednesday, July 20, from 12 – 7 pm. There will be a Rosary at 12 pm and a wake service at 7 pm.

Visitation will continue on Thursday, July 21 from 10 am until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 12 pm. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Marine City.

Monsignor Browne was predeceased by his parents, George and Mary (Fahy) Browne. He is survived by his brother, Reverend Joseph Browne, C.S.C.; and his sisters, Sr. Maria Goretti Browne, OP and Teresa Browne. Condolences may be sent to Teresa Browne, c/o Our Lady on the River Parish, 610 South Water Street, Marine City, MI 48039.

Kindly include in the general intercessions of your weekend liturgies a prayer for the repose of the soul of Monsignor Browne. Keep him in your prayers and include him in the Masses celebrated in accord with our Archdiocesan Mass Pact.

Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of our brother, Fr. James E. Von Tobel, S.J. (CDT), who died at 11:45 a.m. (EDT) on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. He was 80 years old.

Jim was born on March 31, 1936 in Detroit. Before entering the Society, Jim graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in 1954. He entered the Society of Jesus on Sept. 1, 1954 at the Milford Novitiate in Milford, Ohio. He was ordained on June 14, 1967.

He taught Latin and religion at St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo for a year before being called into service for his brother Jesuits at Colombiere Center. He served the Jesuit community in several ministries in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and the dioceses of Cleveland, Marquette, Gaylord and Winona.

While the Funeral Mass is occurring at Gesu Church in University Heights, Ohio, a wake service will take place at Colombiere Center in Clarkston. A burial service will immediately follow the Memorial Mass at Colombiere Center.

The funeral arrangements for Father Von Tobel include:

Wake Service and Funeral Mass
Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016
Wake: 2-5 p.m. | Funeral Mass: 7 p.m.
Gesu Church - Marian Chapel
2470 Miramar Blvd
University Heights, OH 44118-3821

Memorial Mass
Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016
11:15 a.m.
Colombiere Center
9075 Big Lake Road
Clarkston, MI 48346-1015

Condolences may be sent to:

Schell House Jesuit Community
2520 Miramar Blvd
University Heights, OH 44118-3821

David Loewen (cousin)
40238 Kristen
Sterling Heights, MI 48078

Bernadette Schmidt (cousin)
27418 Grant
St. Clair Shores, MI 48081

Virginia Karolak (cousin)
35907 Pinetree
Livonia, MI 48150

Our brother and fellow priest, Monsignor Thomas Villerot, passed on from this life on December 5, 2016 at the age of 99.

Monsignor Villerot was born July 1, 1917 in Detroit, Michigan and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on May 29, 1943.

Monsignor Villerot's assignments included serving as pastor of St. Martin of Tours Parish, Detroit; St. Jude Parish, Detroit; and St. Valerie of Ravenna Parish, Clinton Township. He had also served as associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Erie; St. Catherine Parish, Detroit; St. Lawrence Parish, Detroit; and St. Mary Parish, Royal Oak. In addition, he served as administrator of St. Mary Parish, Royal Oak and on the faculty of Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He was named a Prelate of Honor in 1990.

Visitation will take place at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, 2600 Crooks Road, Troy on Friday, December 9, 2016 from 5 - 8 p.m. There will be a Rosary at 7 p.m.

Monsignor Villerot will lie in state on Saturday, December 10 at St. Mary Parish, 730 South Lafayette Avenue, Royal Oak, Michigan from 10 a.m. until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.

Monsignor Villerot was predeceased by his parents, Henry Villerot, Sr. and Mary O'Brien Villerot; by his brothers, Rev. Henry and Ernest; and by his sisters Sr. Mary Frances Xavier Villerot, RSM, Kathleen Lama, and Anne. He is survived by his brother, Joseph; and his sisters Sr. M. Theresa Villerot, RSM and Barbara Gardner. Condolences may be sent to Joseph L. Villerot, 2566 Somerset Boulevard, Apt. 102, Troy, Michigan 48084.

Kindly include in the general intercessions of your weekend liturgies a prayer for the repose of the soul of Monsignor Villerot. Keep him in your prayers and include him in the Masses celebrated in accord with our Archdiocesan Mass Pact.

Our brother and fellow priest, Father James Profota, passed on from this life on December 11, 2016 at the age of 71.

Father Profota was born on September 5, 1945 in Hamtramck, Michigan and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on April 26, 1975.

Father Profota served as pastor of St. Hubert Parish, Harrison Township; St. Basil the Great Parish, Eastpointe; and Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish, Detroit. He also had served as associate pastor at St. Jude Parish, Detroit; St. Mel Parish, Dearborn Heights; and SS. Peter and Paul (Westside) Parish, Detroit.

Visitation will take place at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons Funeral Home, 36900 Schoenherr Road, (at Metro Parkway), Sterling Heights on Friday, December 16 from 3 - 9 p.m. A Scripture service will be held at 7 p.m.

Father Profota will lie in state on Saturday, December 17 at St. Blase Parish, 12151 Fifteen Mile Road, Sterling Heights from 10 a.m. until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery.

Father Profota was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Lottie Profota. He is survived by his brother Gregory Profota; and his sister, Patricia (Robert) Rybinski. Condolences may be sent to Sr. Pauline Kijek, 34594 Maple Lane Drive, Sterling Heights, MI 48312.

Our brother and fellow pirest, Father Stanislaw Drzal, SChr, passed on from this life on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at the age of 76.

Father Drzal was ordained a priest of the Society of Christ on May 24, 1969 in Poland. He has been in residence at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, Sterling Heights.

Visitation will take place on Monday, January 2, 2017 from 5 – 9 p.m. at Our Lady of Czestochowa, with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and Mass at 7 p.m. He will lie in state in the church until the celebration of his funeral Mass on Tuesday, January 3 at 11 a.m.

Condolences may be sent to Reverend Andrzej Maslejak, SChr, Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, 3000 18 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, Michigan 48314.

Please keep Father Drzal and the Society of Christ in your prayers.

Our brother, Deacon Alex Jones, Jr., passed on from this life on January 14, 2017 at the age of 75.

Deacon Jones was born on September 19, 1941 and ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Detroit on October 1, 2005. He served at St. Suzanne/Our Lady Gate of Heaven Parish, Detroit; St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Detroit; and St. Mary of Redford Parish, Detroit. He also worked in the Evangelization Office of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Deacon Jones will lie in repose on Saturday, January 21 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 9844 Woodward Avenue, Detroit from 10 a.m. until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11 a.m.

Deacon Jones is survived by his wife, Donna C. Jones; his sons, Joseph A. (Bianca) Jones, Sr., Benjamin C. (Tamela) Jones, and Marc (Caletha) Jones; his sister, Gwendolyn Stewart; 12 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, and by his brother, Harold Hamilton.

Condolences may be sent to Joseph Jones, Sr., c/o St. Augustine & St. Monica Parish, 4151 Seminole, Detroit, Michigan 48214.

Kindly include in the general intercessions of your weekend liturgies a prayer for the repose of the soul of Deacon Jones. Keep him in your prayers and include him in the Masses celebrated in accord with our Archdiocesan Mass Pact.