Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2009 / Fr. Porcari recalled for being faithful and loving
Fr. Porcari recalled for being faithful and loving
by Kristin Lukowksi of The Michigan Catholic
Published June 26, 2009
Detroit - "Faithful, loving, and kind" are the first three words that come to mind when thinking about Fr. Ernest Porcari, said Fr. Denis Theroux, remembering his friend who, even in retirement, was dedicated to helping out at his former parish.
Fr. Porcari died Sunday. He was 76.
At Our Lady of Victory Parish, Northville, Fr. Porcari's last assignment as pastor and where Fr. Theroux is pastor now, Fr. Porcari was still saying a weekday and a weekend Mass to lend a hand until a few months ago. Fr. Theroux said Fr. Porcari made it a point to remember people and their birthdays, to care for the sick, and to think up a song for anyone's name - and if he couldn't think of one, he'd make one up.
"He was always very thoughtful," Fr. Theroux said. "He was one of those people who always had a song in his heart."
On his way to celebrate Mass, Fr. Porcari sang as he came into the gathering space, and when he came into the parish office in the morning, he'd sing as he walked down the hallway saying good morning to everyone. In the last few months, he picked up a song from a commercial, a puppy singing "There ain't no bugs on me" about his flea medication.
The words were even typed and taped to the office coffee machine, Fr. Theroux said. "He'd be singing it as he walked down the hall," he said.
Bishop Bernard J. Harrington, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Winona, Minn., was ordained with Fr. Porcari. Bishop Harrington said his classmate was a "dedicated, lovable pastor."
"He was filled with compassion, understand and mercy," he said in a statement. "Even after priestly ordination, Fr. Porcari continued his personal study of theology. He was extremely well read and was always reading a book on theology. All this effort showed up in his preaching and teaching.
"He was a fabulous cook - naturally, he was Italian!" the bishop continued. "However he did require maid service to clean up the kitchen.
"He will be deeply missed by his priest classmates on the golf course, in the kitchen and on world tours."
Fr. Theroux said Fr. Porcari's health problems had worsened over the last few months, although he was still determined to assist at the parish. In fact, he was planning on writing a series of bulletin articles on the rosary, and had even ordered eight books for research.
When he had to have his foot amputated earlier from complications of diabetes, the first question he asked the doctor was if he could stand for an hour with a prosthesis - to say Mass, Fr. Theroux said. During Lent this year, he was too ill to participate in the liturgies, but instead took the chance to think about what God wanted from him.
"This year, I think God just let me experience Lent with the sufferings of Jesus," Fr. Theroux remembers Fr. Porcari saying. "He lived what he believed."
Fr. Porcari was born Oct. 2, 1932, in Norma, Italy. He attended school in Italy, and then studied at Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, and St. John's Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Township. He was ordained June 6, 1959, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit, and celebrated his first Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Detroit.
He served as associate pastor at St. Elizabeth Parish, Wyandotte (1959-64), as associate pastor at St. Clement Parish, Dearborn (1964-71) before becoming pastor there (1971-77), as administrator of St. Richard Parish, Westland (1977-78), as founding pastor of St. Thomas a'Becket Parish, Canton (1978-93), and as pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish, Northville (1993-2003) before becoming a senior priest July 1, 2003. During his priestly ministry, he also served on the presbyteral council and was a recipient of the Fr. John Farrell Award in 1990, which allowed him to study for three months in Rome.
Fr. Porcari is survived by his nephews, Joseph (Tina) Porcari and Damian (Carole) Porcari.
Visitation was to continue Thursday at Our Lady of Victory Parish, Northville, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a rosary prayer at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Victory, with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Burial will take place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.
Condolences to Our Lady of Victory Parish, 133 Orchard Drive, Northville 48167-1398.
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