Fr. Eugene Michel, O.F.M.

Priest of the Franciscan Province of the Sacred Heart, Saint Louis, MO. Most recently, former Pastor at Sacred Heart Church of St. Paul, MN (Written by Father Eugene on the 50th Anniversary of his priestly ordination.) My parents Adolph and Teresa Michel welcomed me into the family, the 4th of six children, on November 26, 1935. We grew up on a farm east of Spooner, Wisconsin, where we learned to work hard. I entered St. Joseph Minor Seminary near Chicago where I spent four years. My parents barely had enough money to survive; they could not pay tuition. The Franciscans accepted me as a student, and they never asked any tuition money from my parents. I entered into the seminary studies which included Latin, Greek and German, and all other subjects. I was so homesick during the first semester that I had planned not to return after Christmas. But I did! Next stop was the Novitiate, a year of simple and somewhat austere introduction to the Franciscan life. From there we went to Cleveland, Ohio to study philosophy for three years at Our Lady of the Angels Seminary. At the end of the three years I, along with my classmates, made Solemn Vows to live the life as a Friar forever. We then went to Teutopolis, Illinois, to St. Joseph Seminary where I spent the happiest of my seminary days studying Theology. Finally, on January 19, 1964 Bishop Ambrose Pinger, O.F.M., former missionary to China where he suffered immensely at the hands of the Communist government, ???laid hands??? on me, and I was ordained a Priest. My parents were there, as were several of my brothers and sisters. A week later, with my whole family present, I celebrated my First Solemn Mass at St. Francis de Sales Church in Spooner. My first assignment as a priest was to teach Afro-American students Religion for eleven years. I spent one special assignment in a little parish serving people who worked for English speaking embassies in Bonn, Germany. Then I taught Theology for one semester in Quincy University. From then on I have ministered in English/Spanish speaking parishes in Chicago and San Antonio, Texas, and, finally, here at Sacred Heart. After studying Spanish on my own, I spent 5 months in a Franciscan Seminary in Mexico where the seminarians, the Friars, and the townspeople helped me immensely. There is only one word that can sum it all up: THANK YOU, PARISHIONERS AND FRIENDS! THANK YOU TO MY PARENTS, FAMILY, AND FELLOW FRANCISCANS. THANK YOU, JESUS. He is survived by his siblings: Larry (Helen) Michel, George (Irene) Michel, Marion (Barney) Honer, Dick (Elaine) Michel & Kathleen (Jack) Brown. There are 11 nieces and 16 nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents: Adolph & Teresa (Gross) Michel, a sister Joan Michel, sister in law JoAnn Michel and niece Julie Michel. Visitation from 2PM to 5PM on SUNDAY, APRIL 9TH at Sacred Heart Church and 1 hour prior to Mass. Mass of Christian Burial MONDAY at 10 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 840 E. 6th St., St. Paul. Interment Calvary Cemetery. In place of flowers, please consider a charitable donation in memory of Fr. Eugene to Franciscan Charities, 3140 Meramec St., St. Louis, MO 63118-4399. See Also Catholic Spirit Obituary