Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published May 11, 2007

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Cardinal Adam Maida, in remarks at the endof Mass, said he looked up to Bishop Schoenherr for his simplicity and prayerfulness.   Bishop Walter Joseph Schoenherr   Born: Feb. 28, 1920. Ordained a priest: Oct. 27, 1945 by Cardinal Edward Mooney in Detroit. Service in parishes: He was assistant pastor at St. David, St. Leo, St. Rose and Presentation parishes in Detroit, and at St. Bede Parish in Southfield. He later was pastor of St. Aloysius Parish in Detroit and rector of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. He also served as a chaplain for the Michigan National Guard and was named a major for his service in Detroit's 1967 race riots. Ordained a bishop: May 1, 1968. Service as bishop: He was Cardinal John Dearden's delegate for the clergy, religious and laity. He was a leader of the Liturgical Commission, and worked on the Worship Commission of Synod in 1969. He served on numerous boards, including those of the Sacred Heart Center for Rehabilitations of Alcoholics, Michigan Welfare League and Michigan Coalition for Human Rights. Bishop Schoenherr for 18 years was appointed to serve the South Region of the Archdiocese of Detroit, including the Dearborn area, Downriver, Monroe, Southland, Southwest Detroit and the Western Wayne Vicariates. During that and a later assignment after an archdiocesan reorganization, he served as many as 102 parishes. Resignation: Cardinal Adam Maida granted Bishop Schoenherr senior priest status in June 2005, four months before the 50th anniversary of his ordination. As a senior priest, Bishop Schoenherr remained active, in spite of health problems which involved five separate bypass surgeries, until shortly before his death. Death: He died April 27, at the age of 87.

Detroit — Hundreds of priests, family members and lay people filled the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament to say their good-byes to Bishop Walter Joseph Schoenherr, who died April 27, and pray that the Lord would usher him into paradise in the same, warm way the bishop greeted everyone he met.

"His house was always an open house," said Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, a long-time friend of Bishop Schoenherr who was ordained a Detroit auxiliary bishop with him in 1968, during the homily. "He welcomed everyone. He was always so friendly, and so generous."

About 170 priests, including 20 bishops, concelebrated Bishop Schoenherr's funeral Mass May 2. Preceding the liturgy, Bishop Schoenherr's body was laid out in a simple wooden coffin — hand-made by a senior priest friend — as those who knew the bishop came from all corners of the archdiocese and beyond to join in prayer, thanksgiving and mourning.

"He kept alive those really basic tenants of our faith that sometimes get lost in all the dogma," said Chris Siemion, a parishioner at St. Alfred Parish in Taylor after the Mass. "The welcomeness, the heartfeltness – the real basics of the faith."

Ushered by the Knights of Columbus in full regalia, the concelebrants processed up the aisle in numbers typically seen only at the annual chrism Mass and ordinations. It may well have been that all of them, noted Bishop Gumbleton, had admired Bishop Schoenherr.

"I think every priest in the diocese at some time has looked up to Joe Schoenherr as a model of what a priest should be," Bishop Gumbleton said.

Bishop Gumbleton told stories of his brother bishop's willingness to serve "at any time, in any place, for any person." He pointed out, especially, the late bishop's desire for social justice — that everyone, no matter how insignificant in the eyes of the world, would be treated with dignity and respect.

Reflecting on St. Paul's letter to the Romans, he said Bishop Schoenherr was a cheerful character because he had hope in the Lord. And alluding to the previous Sunday's Gospel reading likening Christ to a good shepherd who knows His sheep, Bishop Gumbleton said Bishop Schoenherr, indeed, cared for those he ministered to.

"Joe Schoenherr was a good shepherd who knew the people he served and loved the people he served," Bishop Gumbleton said. "His life as a bishop was certainly a beautiful life of service."

A choir comprised of members from around the archdiocese filled the cathedral — of which Bishop Scheonherr had been rector in the 1960s — with Latin and traditional hymns. At the end of Mass, Roy Schoenherr, Bishop Schoenherr's nephew, addressed the congregation and thanked them for the liturgy.

"Fr. Joe deserved it," he said, referring to his uncle. "and you made it happen."

Cardinal Adam Maida, the main celebrant, lauded Bishop Schoenherr as a "wonderful priest," and "great bishop."

"For me, personally, he was a model," the cardinal said. "In his humility, he knew who he was. In his simplicity, he went to the heart of things very quickly…in his holiness, he always gave me the perception that he was in daily contact with God."

Both Cardinal Maida and Bishop Gumbleton had noted that, near the end of his life, Bishop Schoenherr exhibited a peaceful spirit of acceptance.

That peacefulness, though, wasn't noticed only just before his death. Others in the pews at the cathedral knew Bishop Schoenherr for his peaceful nature.

"I always had a feeling that he was a man of peace," said Arlene Barnes, a Detroit native who never met the bishop, but like many heard of him and of his actions. She remembered his presence from the television as Detroit was in upheaval in the 1967 race riots.

Fr. Patrick Casey, pastor of St. Thomas a'Becket Parish in Canton Township (left), looks upon the body of Bishop Walter J. Schoenherr, as Msgr.Stanley Milewski blesses the late bishop's body.

"What I remember about him is that he always was giving — he always wanted to help," Barnes said, adding that seeing the bishop in the casket before Mass, "the peace still showed on him."

Carmen Rayland, a parishioner at St. Aloysius Parish in Detroit, recalled having Bishop Schoenherr as a pastor when she belonged to the Cathedral parish. She said the homily and thoughts shared at the funeral Mass well characterized Bishop Schoenherr.

"What they said about his humility and his simplicity — truly so," she said. Rayland added that she also "truly appreciated his humor."

Though tears were shed at the Cathedral for the death of a well-loved shepherd, the final message from the Mass's concelebrants dealt with thanksgiving to God for the ministry of Bishop Schoenherr, and with the joy of the Resurrection that, many were confident, the late bishop now shared with his Savior.

"Even though we miss him so much, we can take comfort that Joe is alive," Bishop Gumbleton said. "Fully alive — more alive than he was in his 87 years of this life, because he believed in Jesus."

Concelebrants of the funeral Mass sing "Salve Regina" and applaud Bishop Schoenherr one last time as pallbearers carry the bishop's casket out of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament at the end of Mass.

Readers' memories of Bishop Schoenherr Readers of The Michigan Catholic last week shared their memories of Bishop Schoenherr. Here were a few comments e-mailed to The Michigan Catholic. • Bishop Walter Schoenherr was a friend to Angela Hospice and the terminally ill. He presided at the ground-breaking ceremonies and came to visit often when the building was completed. The bishop supported Sr. Mary Giovanni's plans to enlarge the care center to provide for more patient rooms.  — Christine Millington, Green Oak Township, member of St. Joseph Parish, South Lyon • "I am privileged to have met and chatted with Bishop Walter Schoenherr several times over my life. Most recently when the bishop visited St. Sylvester Parish in Warren to confirm my daughter, Erica, in the fall of 2002. He was gracious yet firm in his remarks to the confirmandi that evening at Mass, reminding the young adults to 'take up their cross' and follow Jesus even though the way 'may be difficult.'" — George Eichorn, St. Sylvester Parish, Warren • "We were saddened to hear of the passing of Fr. Joe (that's what we called him in Center Line where he was born). He played baseball with me as a kid. We followed his career in the priesthood, through his support of the anti-war movement during Vietnam. He will be missed." — Ollie and Esther Sauter, St. Thomas More Parish, Troy • "I am a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Bishop Schoenherr was bishop at the cathedral when I was a child. He gave me the sacraments of first communion, confirmation and penance. He was a tremendous joy to have as a child growing up at the cathedral. He was a very humble man who always set such a wonderful example for the cathedral youths. He very much encouraged us as youths to be active in our parish and to participate in Mass, because the future leadership of our parish was on our shoulders. He prepared us well to be the leaders of today."  — Bernadette Traylor, Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit • "Bishop Schoenherr will always hold a special place in my heart. He not only confirmed me years ago, but has confirmed many of my religious education students. He amazed me how, even well into his 80s, he was still able to relate to teenagers, and they to him. He will be missed." — Pam Lincoln, St. Mary Parish, Wayne • "Reading the morning paper this past week brought sadness when I learned of Bishop Schoenherr's death. I was deeply touched with Bishop Schoenherr's care and compassion in the midst of my own health crisis. The Church has lost a kind and loving shepherd." — Fr. Tim Dombrowski, chaplain ethicist at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor • "I have known Bishop Schoenherr since he first came to St Rose Parish on Detroit's east side. I have always known him to be a deeply spiritual man. After not seeing him for many years I attended a retreat that he directed I introduced myself to him and said 'Hello, Bishop.' He corrected me by saying, 'Just call me Joe.' Joe always had time for you even when he ministered full time. I am blessed to have attended his last Mass (I have a picture) here at St. Mary Mercy where I ministered to him." — Margaret Dutka, St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia • Bishop Schoenherr was proud of the fact he Confirmed the singer “Madonna”  At one of his Confirmation Liturgies, he remarked. “ No matter what you think of her or her music, you have to admit the girl has got the Spirit”.     I have been the Director of Faith Formation at 4 parishes in 3 vicariates in 3 counties and have had the privilege of having him as our confirming Bishop several times.  His homily to the confirmandi was always inspirational and spoken from the heart. My hometown is Wyandotte. The Downriver vicariate held a celebration in his honor at Elizabeth Park in Trenton for his retirement.  We had Mass under the pavilion with the Detroit River as our backdrop.  There was youth choirs, music, food, fellowship, and hula dancers for the bishop.  I swore the smile on his face that day would last forever. — Doreen Schultz, Director Faith Formation, St. Regis, Bloomfield Hills