Rev. Msgr. James A. Suchocki
Deceased: 2015-10-22
Diocese: GAYLORD
Seminary Graduation Year: 1963
ICTE Spring: 1992
Rev. Msgr. James A. Suchocki – Beloved brother, uncle and ordained priest who served the Diocese of Saginaw, Diocese of Gaylord and the Archdiocese of Miami passed away Thursday, October 22, 2015. Age 79 years. The son of the late Alex and Florence (Kruska) Suchocki, James was born May 1, 1936 in Saginaw, Michigan.
He graduated from Ss. Peter & Paul High School, St. Mary College, Orchard Lake and North American College in Rome and was ordained on December 19, 1962. During Msgr. Suchocki’s ministry, he was appointed Assistant Pastor at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Saginaw. When the Diocese of Gaylord and Saginaw were realigned, Msgr. Suchocki remained in the Diocese of Gaylord where he served as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in West Branch, St. Joseph Parish in Manistee, St. Mary/Holy Redeemer in Gaylord/Vanderbilt, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Elmira, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Tawas, St. Pius X in Hale, St. James in Whittemore, St. Francis Xavier in Petsokey. He also served the Diocese of Gaylord as Vicar, Vicar General, Ordinary Confessor for the Sacramentine Sisters and Knights of Columbus Chaplain. Msgr. Suchocki also served as Chaplain for Michigan State Police. In 1996, Msgr. Suchocki was released to the Archdiocese of Miami where he continued his ministry.
On February 1, 2005, Msgr. Suchocki was granted Full Senior Priest Status and on December 23, 2011 was named Prelate of Honor of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. This recognition carried with it the honorary title of “Monsignor”.
Surviving are two sisters and one brother, Judy McCartney, Saginaw; Mary Ann and Jerry Moore, Saginaw; John and Mona Suchocki, Saginaw; a sister-in-law, Roberta (Bobbe) Suchocki, North Miami, Florida; many nieces and nephews, Linda McCartney, Kathie (John) Vitale, Maureen (Stephen) Thompson, Thomas (April) McCartney, Gerald (Kimberly) Moore, Lorrie Moore, Cynthia Moore, Adam (Laura) Suchocki, Ann (James) Mason, Erica (Brian) Schroeder, Rebecca Suchocki, Brian Suchocki, Aaron Suchocki and Corey Suchocki; 13 great-nieces and great-nephews; many special and dear friends including Sister Virginia Phillips. Msgr. Suchocki was preceded in death by a brother, Arthur Suchocki, and by a brother-in-law, Thomas McCartney.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 26, 2015 at St. John Paul II Parish-St. Josaphat Site, (the location of his First Mass), 469 Shattuck Road, Saginaw, Michigan, 48604. Most Rev. Steven Raica, Bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord, presiding. Homilist will be Rev. Fr. Robert H. Byrne. Friends may call at The Snow Funeral Home, 3775 N. Center Rd., (between Shattuck and McCarty), where the family will be present on Sunday from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. and at St. John Paul II Parish-St. Josaphat site on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass. A Vigil Service, led by Rev. Fr. Richard E. Jozwiak, will take place 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Msgr. James Alex Suchocki Scholarship Fund for St. Andrew Catholic Church, 9950 N.W. 29th Street, Coral Springs, Florida, 33065, the Diocese of Saginaw Seminarian Fund or the Diocese of Gaylord Seminarian Fund.
