Rev. Gregory John Schmitt C.Ss.R

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. Gregory Schmitt, C.Ss.R., a Redemptorist missionary who died on June 30, 2024 while hospitalized after a routine medical procedure in Kansas City, MO. Only three days earlier – on June 27 – he celebrated his 81st birthday and the 55th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Fr. Greg served primarily in parish ministry and as a member of the Parish Mission Team, and was still preaching for Unbound and involved with the social services programs at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Church at the time of his unexpected death.

Gregory John Schmitt was born to George and Agnes Schmitt on June 27, 1943 in Whitefish Bay, WI. After graduating from Marquette High School, a Jesuit institution in nearby Milwaukee, he seriously considered a career in engineering. He chose the path to the priesthood instead, and entered St. Joseph’s College in Edgerton, WI in 1961. He was deemed a conscientious, intelligent student with mature judgement, and was well liked by his classmates. He proceeded to novitiate at Mount St. Clement’s in DeSoto, MO and professed temporary vows on August 2, 1964. After completing his theological studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Oconomowoc, WI, he professed perpetual vows on August 26, 1967. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 27, 1969 by Archbishop William E. Cousins, DD of Milwaukee in the Chapel of Holy Redeemer College in Waterford, WI.

The newly ordained priest continued his education at Mount Saint Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, NY, where he graduated cum laude with Master’s degrees in Divinity and Religious Education in 1970. After completing Tirocinium at St. Alphonsus “Rock” Parish in St. Louis, MO, he was assigned at St. Alphonsus Parish in Minneapolis, MN in 1971. Four years later, he was appointed associate director of Queen of Peace Retreat Center in Fargo, ND. He joined the Mission Team stationed at St. Alphonsus Parish in Chicago in 1978, and traveled throughout the country as an itinerant preacher for six years.

Fr. Greg was appointed pastor and superior of the local community at St. Brigid/Holy Redeemer Parish in Midland, MI in 1984. Parishioners and staff appreciated his decisiveness, open communication and leadership style. He continued to enhance his ministry effectiveness with courses and seminars focused on liturgy, preaching and parish administration. Six years later, he was assigned as pastor and superior of the local community at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Parish in Kansas City. In addition to responsibility for the busy parish, he was involved in its many social services outreach programs to the larger community from 1990 until 1996. During this time, he also served as a member of the Extraordinary Provincial Council and on various committees serving the former St. Louis Province.

Fr. Greg served as pastor and superior of the local community at Sacred Heart Parish in Seattle, WA from 1997 until 2002. He was committed to sustaining the Sacred Heart Shelter, which provided 90-day shelter for families and single women, and successfully facilitated communication between business leaders, neighbors and governmental agencies grappling with the homeless situation in the area.

Fr. Greg was named director of Holy Redeemer Center in Oakland, CA in 2003 and assumed responsibility for revitalizing the retreat ministry. After two years, he returned to parish ministry. He served as pastor of St. Mary’s Assumption Parish in New Orleans, LA from 2005 until 2011, when he joined the Mission Team stationed at St. Michael Parish in Chicago. He began preaching for Unbound in 2014, and completed preacher awareness trips to Costa Rica and Guatemala for the charitable sponsorship organization.

Fr. Greg was 75 years old when he returned to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Parish in Kansas City as a missionary in residence in 2018. He devoted more time to his favorite hobbies – golf and carpentry – but he continued to invest himself in what he believed in, preaching for Unbound and volunteering with the parish’s social services programs until the time of his death.

Visitation will be 7-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 9, followed by a Memorial Mass at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Church, 3333 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO.

A Vigil Service will take place at 7 p.m., Friday, July 12 at St. Clement Mission Community, Barnhart, MO. Funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 13 at St. Clement Mission Community, Barnhart, MO, followed by burial in the Redemptorist Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Kansas City; to Unbound.org; or to the Redemptorists of the Denver Province, 1633 N. Cleveland Ave., Chicago, IL 60614.