ROCHESTER — Remembered as a relatable man and priest who loved rock and roll music, Fr. Robert J. Shafer will be greatly missed by his friends and former parishioners.
Fr. Shafer, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit for 25 years who served at several southeast Michigan parishes, died Sept. 22 at the age of 70.
Born July 16, 1954, in Detroit, Fr. Shafer attended the University of Michigan, Harvard University, and the University of Detroit, obtaining a teaching certificate from the state of Michigan.
As a young man, he began discernment with the Jesuits but ultimately chose not to be ordained and left the order. Following his time with the Jesuits, he returned to his high school alma mater, University of Detroit Jesuit High School, and taught for 19 years.
Teaching was one of Fr. Shafer’s greatest charisms, said Fr. Brian Cokonougher, a seminary classmate and friend.
“He loved to teach in the formal setting of RCIA, or to visit a parish Bible study or more informally,” Fr. Cokonougher said. “He was very proud of his experience at U of D high school as a soccer coach and a science teacher.”
Later, Fr. Shafer again discerned the priesthood and entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. At the age of 44, he was ordained a priest on May 22, 1999, by Cardinal Adam J. Maida at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Fr. Shafer’s first assignment after ordination was as associate pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Rochester (1999-2002), in addition to serving as chaplain to Marian and Brother Rice high schools in Bloomfield Hills (2001-02). He served as associate pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in St. Clair Shores (2002-03) and administrator of St. Cyril of Jerusalem Parish, Taylor (2003). Fr. Shafer served as pastor of St. Angela Parish, Roseville (2003-04); associate pastor of Holy Family Parish in Novi (2004-06); administrator of St. Victor Parish in Rockwood (2009-10); and pastor of St. Timothy Parish in Trenton (2006-18).
He was granted senior priest status on July 1, 2024.
Fr. Shafer’s parishioners at St. Timothy remember him for his warmth and approachable nature. Parishioner Linda Porrecca remembers the first time she met her new pastor in 2007.
“When he came to St. Tim’s, my mother had passed away on a Friday, and I went to church on Sunday,” Porrecca told Detroit Catholic. “A friend of ours told Fr. Bob that my mother had passed away. I had never met him before, but he came up to me, and he put his hands on my shoulders, and he said, ‘Linda, I am Fr. Bob, your new pastor, and I understand your mother passed away, and if there is anything at all I can do, I am here for you.’
"How much more could you ask for a person like that?" Porrecca said. "And he really meant it.”
Linda’s son, Michael Porrecca, 58, was baptized at St. Timothy, and said Fr. Shafer played a role in helping him rediscover his faith after he briefly left. Michael and several other parishioners formed a tradition of taking Fr. Shafer out to eat once a month at a local pizzeria.
“There were no airs about him," Michael Porrecca said. "He was a kind soul, so when you got to know him, you saw the personal part of him. He was there to greet you at Mass, both before and after, and he always had a kind word.
“Fr. Bob did a heck of a job being a shepherd to his flock,” he added.
Both Michael Porrecca and Fr. Cokonougher remembered Fr. Shafer as an avid sports fan and a lover of rock and roll music. Fr. Cokonougher said he and Fr. Shafer formed a friendship over a love of bands such as Genesis and King Crimson.
“We both liked the same rock music, and so we would buy CDs and loan them to each other,” Fr. Cokonougher said. “Along with another classmate, we attended a concert or two before ordination.”
Fr. Cokonougher said Fr. Shafer was “authentic and approachable” both among his fellow priests and his parish flock.
“Wherever Fr. Bob went, he wanted to build community, he wanted a sense of family, and I just thought he tried to relate well with everyone,” Fr. Cokonougher said.
Fr. Shafer is predeceased by his parents, Wallace and Bernice Shafer. He is survived by his sister, Sharon (James) Nowakowski, his niece, Becky Nowakowski, nephew, Kevin (Stephanie) Nowakowski, and great-nephews.
Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron presided over Fr. Shafer’s funeral Mass on Thursday, Sept. 26, at St. Andrew Parish in Rochester. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family in their Online Guestbook.
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