† Fr. Robert Kropac

With sadness, I share news of the death of Fr. Robert Kropac from cancer on Sunday afternoon, July 5th. Fr. Kropac was given the pastoral charge of reopening St. Peter Parish on September 9, 2012, following its closure as part of the diocesan parish merger process of 2010. Fr. Kropac continued to serve as administrator of St. Peter until July, 2019, when Bishop Nelson Perez requested that the Capuchin Friars assume the pastoral care of the parish. He continued to serve the people of St. Wendelin Parish in Tremont and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (West) in the Detroit — Shoreway neighborhood until his death.

I first met Bob in 2010, and our unique ministerial relationship began then. He was the last pastor of St. Henry Parish in Lee-Harvard which was one of the initial three parishes merged to form Holy Spirit Parish in Garfield Heights, where I served as the first pastor of the new community. He guided the reopening of St Peter, beginning on September 9, 2012; I am the first Capuchin friar to be assigned permanently to this ministry. In every transition, Fr. Kropac was thoughtful, kind, exceedingly candid and open to the many questions a pastor needs to ask. The congregations of the many parishes he served will miss him.

As of this writing, no funeral arrangements have been announced by the Diocese. Services will likely be held at St. Wendelin Church, 2281 Columbus Rd. in Tremont where he had served as pastor since its reopening on July 29, 2012. Our 11:30am mass this Sunday will be offered for his eternal rest.