Mary Lynn Staley remembers Father Robert Schwartz’s homilies, his founding a high school in Ghana, Africa, more than 10 years ago while he was pastor of her parish, Our Lady of Grace in Edina, and his concern for people’s faith lives.
She also knows the health struggles he had in recent years, including partial paralysis after back surgery about seven years ago that required his use of a mechanized wheelchair, as well as recent hospitalizations. Father Schwartz, 82, died in a St. Paul hospital Feb. 18.
“He was such a gift and a blessing in our lives,” Mary Lynn said about herself and her husband, Warren. “Spiritually as well as by connecting us to the Ghana mission and the initiatives going on there.”
Recalling his homilies, Mary Lynn said they were deeply meaningful.
“You could tell he wanted us to live in ways that deepen our faith; a faith that contained not just projects and process but one which led to more spiritual lives. He gave examples of what that would look like in our everyday world.”
Father Kevin Finnegan, pastor of Our Lady of Grace and successor there in 2014 to Father Schwartz, said the struggle his brother priest had with adapting to partial paralysis deepened his faith and understanding.
“I think on a very profound level, spiritually and psychologically,” Father Schwartz asked the Lord about his mission going forward, Father Finnegan said. “He grappled with that and became a beautiful man of spiritual depth. We all suffer, but those who embrace the cross will really experience the resurrection, and help others experience the resurrection, as well,” Father Finnegan said.
Father Schwartz’s death on the 57th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was met with an outpouring of support and prayers. About 150 people gathered the afternoon of his death at Carondelet Village senior living community in St. Paul, where he most recently lived, in an honors procession that is a tradition for marking the deaths of residents.
Funeral arrangements at Our Lady of Grace include a 6-8 p.m. prayer vigil Feb. 22, with Liturgy of the Hours at 7:30 p.m. Visitation begins at 9 a.m. Feb. 23 at the church, followed by 10 a.m. Mass. Interment will be at 12:45 p.m. Feb. 23 at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights. Archbishop Bernard Hebda will preside at the funeral, and Father John Malone will deliver the homily.
Survivors of Father Schwartz include three brothers and a sister. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.
A native of Minneapolis, Father Schwartz’s ministry included serving 12 years as pastor of Our Lady of Grace before retiring in 2014. He was pastor for 11 years at St. John Neumann in Eagan (1991-2002), when he also served starting in 1998 as a chaplain with the Eagan Police Department. He was an instructor, spiritual director and dean of formation at The St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul (1985-1991).
Father Schwartz was director of the chancery’s Center for Growth in Priestly Ministry (1976-1985) and parochial administrator of St. Mary of the Lake in Plymouth in 1978. He was associate pastor of Christ the King in Minneapolis (1974-1976) and assistant pastor of St. Peter in North St. Paul (1967-1972). He also studied in Rome at Gregorian University and wrote a book, “Servant Leaders of the People of God,” while receiving a doctorate in sacred theology.
In retirement, Father Schwartz presided at Mass in many parishes, ministered and celebrated Mass as part of the community in Carondelet Village and volunteered at Catholic Charities Twin Cities.
The Staleys reconnected with Our Lady of Grace in 1987, when they moved back to the Twin Cities after stints in England and then Argentina with Warren’s work at a Minneapolis-based agribusiness.
Father Schwartz welcomed parishioners from Most Holy Trinity as the two parishes merged in 2012. The merger included the St. Louis Park parish’s close relationship with St. Joseph parish in Mamponteng, Ghana. That relationship led to Father Schwartz, the Staleys and others helping found Our Lady of Grace Senior High School in Mamponteng in 2012.
The high school was fruit borne from Father Schwartz asking what most troubled a visiting priest from Ghana about his ministry back home, Mary Lynn said. The priest replied that education for people in his region generally stopped at junior high because there was no senior high school.
“Father Bob took that to heart,” Mary Lynn said. He turned to the Staley family and others for help setting up the school, she said.
Carrying on that legacy continues to be an integral to the mission of Our Lady of Grace, Mary Lynn said.
