CLARKSTON — Fr. Ronald Babich was a kindhearted priest, a little on the quiet side, who loved the Blessed Mother and went out of his way to make his parishioners feel like family, those who knew him say.
“We on the staff all loved him,” Lori Johnston, business manager at St. Daniel Parish in Clarkston, where Fr. Babich served as pastor from 2014 until his retirement in 2020, told Detroit Catholic. “He was such a big-hearted priest. He would have the children come up and sit around the altar, and he’d bring a stool and they’d all sit around him.”
A parish priest for all of his 43 years in active ministry, Fr. Babich loved the Blessed Virgin Mary and made a point to involve his parishioners in devotions to her, Johnston said.
“During the month of May, we had many events in the church to honor the Blessed Mother. He started having Marian devotions weekly. We have a Marian statue outside, and we would plant flowers; anything devotional to give light to Mary, he would do,” Johnston said.
Just two years after retiring as St. Daniel's pastor, Fr. Babich died Jan. 29 at the age of 71.
Ronald Babich was born March 3, 1950, in Detroit, one of two children of John and Veronica Babich. He attended St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit by Bishop Arthur Krawczak on March 5, 1977.
He served as associate pastor of St. Veronica Parish in Eastpointe (1977-80), SS. Peter and Paul (Westside) Parish in Detroit (1980-81), St. Rene Goupil Parish in Sterling Heights (1981-85), and Guardian Angels Parish in Clawson (1985-87). He briefly served as administrator of St. John the Baptist in Monroe in 1985.
Fr. Babich received his first pastor assignment at St. Hilary Parish in Redford, serving there from 1987-94, before later shepherding Our Lady Queen of All Saints Parish in Fraser (1994-2014) and St. Daniel in Clarkston (2014-20).
Johnston said Fr. Babich loved to cook and bake, and would often create cakes and baked goods for parish fundraisers.
“He was always very good at decorating cakes,” Johnston said. “And he loved Polish food. He made really good pierogis, and he would always bring soups and spaghetti sauce, and bring all kinds of food for the staff.”
When Fr. Babich would take time off to visit the Upper Peninsula — an annual trip he cherished — on his way back he would stop at the apple orchards in Traverse City to bring back apples, Johnston said.
“He looked forward to that all year long,” Johnston said. “He loved the fall, the changing of the leaves. He loved the holidays, too, especially October through December. He left his Christmas decorations up all year inside the rectory.”
Fr. Babich was very much a “sacramental priest,” Johnston said, pouring his heart and soul into the parish, whether it was witnessing marriages, performing baptisms, confessions or anointings or presiding at funerals.
Barb Houbeck, one of Fr. Babich’s parishioners at Our Lady Queen of All Saints, which merged in 2014 to become St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, said Fr. Babich made an impact on her four children, who were altar servers at the parish, including a son who would grow up to become a priest himself.
“Fr. James (Houbeck, who currently serves at St. Anastasia Parish in Troy) was right there, watching what Fr. Babich did,” Houbeck said. “His eyes were totally focused on Fr. Babich, and everyone would tell me, ‘He’s going to grow up and become a priest someday.’”
Houbeck said Fr. Babich was a “very kind man” who “treated everyone respectfully.”
“All of us always felt like we were one big family,” Houbeck said, fighting back tears. “If you ever had problems, Fr. Ron was right there” along with Sr. Nancy Zajac, OP, the parish’s pastoral associate, she said.
Houbeck reiterated Fr. Babich’s love for Mary, saying the priest made it a point to bring devotions to the parish during the month of May and throughout the year.
“He did so many things throughout the year to make us fall more in love with Jesus and Mary. We would all sing during the processions; you never saw anyone standing there looking at their watches waiting to go home,” Houbeck said.
Fr. Babich wasn’t a big talker, but he let his parishioners know he loved them, Houbeck added.
“I would like to thank God for creating Fr. Ron and giving him the ability to be such a good shepherd for all of his flock, and for giving us that love of devotion of knowing Jesus, of knowing Mary, and all of the things he gave us as a family,” Houbeck said.
Addressing Fr. Babich, Houbeck added a few more heartfelt words, no doubt heard from across the cosmos.
“Thank you for being such a humble man, and for the many years of dedication you gave to our parish,” Houbeck said. “You will be fondly missed, but you will always be in our prayers. I’m sure you’re up in heaven with Jesus.”
Fr. Babich is predeceased by his parents, John and Veronica. He is survived by his sister, Naomi (Randall) Casement, nephew Iyam Casement, and great-nephew, Paris.
Visitation will take place at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc., 36900 Schoenherr Road, Sterling Heights, on Thursday, Feb. 3, from 3-9 p.m. He will lie in state at St. Paul of Tarsus Church, 41300 Romeo Plank Road, Clinton Township, on Friday, Feb. 4, from 11 a.m. until his funeral Mass at 12 p.m.
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