Rev. Fr. James M Bozung

On February 1, 2024, Rev. Fr. James M. Bozung, aged 89, went to the house of the Lord, whom he served for 62 years of his life as a faithful, devoted priest. Father Jim was born September 28, 1934, in Hubbardston, Mich., to Henry and Magdalena (Domelle) Bozung. One of nine children in the large and loving Bozung family, he was baptized at St. John the Baptist Parish and attended grade school there for eight years, taught by the Dominican Sisters. The death of his mother when he was young affected him deeply, and he greatly appreciated the sacrifices his family made that enabled him to pursue the priesthood as a young man. In 1949, he entered St. Joseph Seminary. During his formative years there, he made many lifelong connections, including fellow seminarian and later priest Fr. Don Lomasiewicz, a dear friend to the day of Fr. Jim’s death. From 1955-1957, he attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, where he majored in Philosophy. He then studied Theology, Scripture, Canon Law and Elocution at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Texas from 1958-1961. There he encountered and grew to deeply love the Hispanic people and culture, which was to have a great impact on his life and ministry as a priest. On June 3, 1961, he was ordained a priest forever at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Grand Rapids, Mich., by Bishop Allen James Babcock. Father’s great joy in life was to be a priest and serve the people of God. As he reflected on his years in ministry, he said he would want to remove the times he failed to be the best priest he could be, but he would never want to be anything other than a priest. He encouraged others to respond generously to the call the Lord might be placing on their lives. He himself was inspired by the example of other men who gave their lives to serve the Church, in particular Fr. William Flanagan, the parish priest at St. John the Baptist while he was growing up there. Father Jim loved languages, and was conversant in many, but was fluent in Latin and Spanish. He used this gift to serve the Hispanic community of West Michigan in many ways. The Spanish-speaking people always held a special place in Father’s heart. Father Jim served in many places throughout the Diocese of Grand Rapids over the course of his priestly ministry, including, in his early years, St. Francis de Sales in Holland; Our Lady of Grace in Muskegon; Sacred Heart of Jesus in Grand Rapids; Sacred Heart Parish in Muskegon Heights; and St. Margaret Mary in Edmore with Missions St. Francis, Lakeview and St. Bernadette in Stanton. From 1972-1976, he served on the faculty of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Grand Rapids, with care of the Spanish-speaking faithful of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, then located on Rumsey Street SW. He became pastor of St. Joseph’s in 1976 and was there until 1985, a fruitful time in his life and ministry. He served as associate pastor at St. James Church for one year, before becoming pastor of St. Edward Parish in Lake Odessa. In 1993, he became pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Belmont, and remained there until his retirement in 2001. In his retirement years, he continued to serve actively in many ways, assisting at St. Mary in Spring Lake, and St. Isidore in Grand Rapids, his last parish home. For the last five years of his life, Father resided in Grand Rapids with John and Sylvia Oleck, dear friends who became like family to him over the course of their lives. He was blessed by the care and prayers of many faithful Catholic friends throughout his last years as well; with special thanks to Christine Heeringa and Felipa Schwartz, and to the Grand Brook and Interim Hospice staff for all of the love, care, compassion, and kindness shown to Father. We also give special thanks to Monsignor Edward Hankiewicz and Diane Schmidt at St. Isidore for the many ways they helped Father be able to continue his priestly ministry in his senior years. While very learned and well read, Father maintained a humble spirit and a lively sense of humor throughout his life. He kept a deep appreciation for the farm life of his childhood, and used the stonemason skills he learned from his father Henry to build shrines and gardens at many of the parishes he served and the former St. Joseph Seminary. He loved spending time in nature, riding his bicycle, sharing his love of the Latin language, enjoying time with his fellow priests (who were like brothers to him), singing, and spending time in prayer. Above all, he loved the Catholic faith, and celebrating the Sacraments. He exhorted people to receive the grace of Confession and Holy Eucharist, and to seek God’s mercy daily. It is difficult to sum up the many adventures and the impact on others Father had throughout his life. He felt great gratitude at being called to be a priest and to share the life of Christ with people from all walks of life. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.” —St. John Vianney. Father Jim answered this call with his whole heart. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Alvin (Beatrice) Bozung, Raymond (Judy) Bozung, Eugene Bozung, Gerald Bozung, and sisters Mildred Bozung, Margaret Bozung, and Bernice (Joseph) Caudy. He is survived by his sisters Joan Bozung and Jeanette (Harry) Sanborn, many loving nieces and nephews, and John and Sylvia Oleck and their children and grandchildren. Father Bozung will lie in state at St. Isidore the Laborer Parish, 628 Diamond Ave. NE, from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, February 8, 2024, with a Rosary prayed at 7:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 9, at St. Isidore, with Bishop David Walkowiak presiding. Father Bozung will repose one hour prior to the Mass. Interment will be Friday February 9, at 3:30 pm at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Hubbardston. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Father’s memory to HELP Pregnancy Aid, Grand Rapids Right to Life, Holy Family Radio, and/or St. Isidore Parish.

Tributes

Rev. Fr. James M Bozung

September 28, 1934 - February 1, 2024