Father John Olsavsky

Bishop Martin Amos, bishop emeritus of Davenport, Iowa, was the main celebrant at the funeral Mass for Father John Olsavsky on Sept. 15 in St. Joan of Arc Church, Chagrin Falls. Father Robert Sanson was the homilist. Father John Olsavsky, 90, died on Sept. 6. He was born on Jan. 11, 1936, to the late John and Thecla (Repka) Olsavsky. Father Olsavsky was  educated at St. Ladislaus School and Cathedral Latin High School, Cleveland, St. Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati, Borromeo Seminary, Wickliffe and Saint Mary Seminary, Cleveland. On May 19, 1962, in the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Bishop John Whealon ordained him to the priesthood for the service of the Diocese of Cleveland. Father Olsavsky served as a parochial vicar at SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish, Barberton. He also served as secretary-notary of the diocesan Tribunal and he was an assistant chaplain at St. John Hospital, Cleveland. Father Olsavsky was sent for graduate studies at St. John Lateran University in Rome and was appointed defender of the bond in the diocesan Tribunal when he returned. He later served as vice officialis of the diocesan Tribunal and then officialis of the diocesan Tribunal. Father Olsavsky was named pastor of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Cleveland on Jan. 24, 1979. He was named pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish and also began a five-year term as adjutant judicial vicar on Sept. 1, 1988. On Jan. 1, 1993, he was appointed presiding judge of the Appeal Court. Father Olsavsky also served as presbyteral convener of the Suburban Southeast District and he was a member of the College of Consultors, as well as serving as an at-large member of the Presbyteral Council. After retiring on Feb. 1, 2006, he was named pastor emeritus of St. Joan of Arc Parish. During his retirement, Father Olsavsky twice represented the retired priests on Presbyteral Council.  A private burial took place at Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland.

Father Roger Bourgeois, SSS

The Mass of Christian Burial for Father Roger Bourgeois, SSS was celebrated on Aug. 27 in St. Paschal Baylon Church, Highland Heights, followed by the Rite of Committal at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon. Father Bourgeois, 96, died Aug. 22. He was born Aug. 16, 1930, to the late Clifford and Lena Bourgeois in Gardner, Massachusetts. Father Bourgeois professed his vows in the congregation of the Blessed Sacrament  on Sept. 8, 1952, and he was ordained to the priesthood on Sept. 21, 1957. He served the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament for 10 years in the Philippines as a parochial vicar and novice director. After returning to the United States, he twice served as local superior of the Highland Heights Blessed Sacrament community at St. Paschal Baylon. Father Bourgeois also served as a parochial vicar several times: at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Parma, at St. Paschal Baylon Parish, at Downtown St. Joseph Parish in San Antonio, Texas, and at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He also served as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Salt Lake City, Utah. Father Bourgeois was parochial vicar and chaplain of St. Ann Shrine in Highland Heights from 2013 until his death. He also had other leadership roles with the Blessed Sacrament community, including local superior for 16 years and four years as provincial vicar. Contributions in his memory can be  made to the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, 5384 Wilson Mills Road, Highland Heights, Ohio 44143.