Rev. Thomas F. Schmitt
Deceased: 2014-08-16
Diocese: BOSTON
CSM Graduation Year: 2000
SCHMITT, Reverend Thomas F. 58, of Weston Mass., son of the late David T. Schmitt Sr. and Louise (Stitt) Schmitt, died peacefully after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer on Saturday, August 16, 2014. He was born on May 4, 1956 in Greenwich, CT and enjoyed growing up and playing sports with his brothers and sister in Wilton, CT; Harrisville, NH; and North Canaan, CT. Fr. Tom received a B.A. in History from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and in 1991 he was ordained a Priest following four years of study at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary. He was assigned to St. Thomas Parish in West Springfield, MA and in 1996 he moved to Rome to study at Pontifical Gregorian University where, in 1998, he received his Licentiate of Sacred Theology (S.T.L.). He had the privilege of meeting Pope St. John Paul II, and often recalled the Pope’s comment to him – it was a “gift to be a priest”. Following his studies in Rome, Fr. Tom went back to his roots to become a teacher and the Dean of Seminarians at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary. Fr. Tom often spoke of how blessed he was, not only to teach, but to carry out weekend parish work at Christ the King Parish in Ludlow, MA where he performed many baptisms, weddings, and served the community; he cherished his gift to be a priest and to teach and form men into becoming priests. He was proud of his work and treasured the opportunity to travel to ordinations throughout the United States, including as far away as Alaska. Fr. Tom also deeply loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews and watching them grow. He shared his joy of hiking, bicycling and kayaking with family and friends. He enjoyed sports, especially watching the Red Sox. Fr. Tom is survived by his sister Catherine and her husband Rene, his brothers Joseph, Robert and his wife Susan, Paul and his wife Sue, Greg, Peter and his wife Mary Pat, as well as many aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother, David Jr. The family extends a heartfelt thanks to Fr. Tom’s dear friends Ron Desilets and Mary Koehler, as well as the Optum Hospice nurses, Dr. Timothy Murphy, Rev. William Palardy and his fellow colleagues at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary for their kindness and great care they provided to Fr. Tom. Relatives and friends may join the family Wednesday, August 20, 2014 for a prayer service to begin at 3:30 PM and visiting hours from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, 558 South Avenue, Weston, MA and on Thursday, August 21, 2014 from 4:30 – 8:30 PM with a prayer service starting at 7:00 PM at Christ the King Church, 41 Warsaw Avenue, Ludlow, MA. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, August 22, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Christ the King Church, 41 Warsaw Avenue, Ludlow, MA. A Christian burial will take place with the family on Saturday, August 23, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, North Canaan, CT. The family requests memorial donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, 558 South Avenue, Weston, MA 02493. Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA is entrusted with all arrangements.
