Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / PIME's Fr. Rossi was devoted missionary, loving pastor
PIME's Fr. Rossi was devoted missionary, loving pastor
by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published March 14, 2008
Detroit — Those who knew PIME missionary Fr. Dominic Rossi, the former long-time pastor of San Francesco Parish in Clinton Township, say he was a caring, dependable priest and an ardently devoted missionary.
"He was a very outgoing man, loving the people — a very happy person. A man of dedication," said Fr. Giulio Schiavi, PIME, the current pastor of San Francesco Parish, who succeeded Fr. Rossi in the post 10 years ago. "People liked him so much because he was all for them."
Fr. Rossi died March 4 at his home in Tivoli Manor in Warren. He was 92, and was active in his priestly ministry up until his death.
Fr. Rossi was born in Cantalice, Italy, on Oct. 8, 1915. He was the youngest of five children, three boys and two girls, born to Bernardino and Maria Rossi.
He was ordained in 1938 and received his first missionary assignment the following summer to Africa. In his missionary work, Fr. Rossi served Italians sent to British-run concentration camps in the former Rhodesia, Africa, throughout World War II, and until 1949.
He then served in northern Brazil, helping to establish a parish church and school along the Amazon River and ministering to local lepers. Fr. Rossi worked with the local government to provide grants to impoverished locals known as "Carvoeiros," who produced charcoal.
Following his ministry in Brazil, Fr. Rossi was among the first members of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) to minister in the United States. He served at the PIME seminary in Newark, Ohio; taught religion at Our Lady Star of the Sea School in San Pedro, Calif.; and worked with PIME seminarians in Oakland, N.J.
He was named pastor of San Francesco Parish in 1965 and served at the parish for more than 30 years. There, he helped galvanize the church among Detroit's Italian-American community with social and cultural events. His pastorate also resulted in the moving of San Francesco from Detroit to its current location in 1978.
During his time in the Archdiocese of Detroit, Fr. Rossi also was chaplain of the San Francesco Missionary Orphans Club and the TACOM army base in Warren. He belonged to the Lazio Club and was an honorary member of a number of Italian groups. And he enjoyed playing bocce, and was on the San Francesco Bowling League.
Fr. Kenneth Mazur, U.S. Regional Superior of PIME, said Fr. Rossi's ministry was reminiscent of St. Paul's letter to Timothy, in which he wrote "proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching (2 Tim 4:2)."
"That was certainly Fr. Rossi," Fr. Mazur said. "He was very strong in his belief, in what needed to be preached. At the same time, he was also a very caring and concerned person. He would never say 'no' to anybody."
Fr. Mazur, who celebrated Fr. Rossi's funeral Mass on March 10, said the hundreds at Fr. Rossi's funeral were a testament to Fr. Rossi's dedication as a pastor.
"So many people told me how he touched their lives by visiting a sick loved one, or coming to a funeral home when somebody died," Fr. Mazur said. "He was very open to the needs and very responsive to the needs of the individual parishioners."
He added that Fr. Rossi lived out his missionary priesthood until the very end of his life. He celebrated Mass each week at TACOM army base until just before his death. He also said Mass for others until the very day he died.
"He was just a wonderful man, a dedicated pastor," added Fr. Schiavi. "He spent time taking care of the Italian community. He blessed so many people."
Fr. Rossi is survived by his nephews, Fr. Bernadino, Orlando, Fiorenzo and Francesco.
His funeral Mass was Monday at San Francesco Church. Entombment was in Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township. Memorial donations may be made in Fr. Rossi's name to PIME Missionaries, 17330 Quincy Street, Detroit, 48221.
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