DETROIT — During his time as pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Detroit, Msgr. John F. Schweder made an impression on the future Msgr. Michael LeFevre, back then only a young college student.
“The image I always have of (Fr.) John is when he would be strolling across the parking lot at St. Matthew’s, he was always wearing suspenders, even before they were popular,” Msgr. LeFevre, today pastor of St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish in Auburn Hills, said with a laugh.
His wardrobe choices aside, it was Msgr. Schweder's example as a capable administrator, outgoing and friendly pastor and a faithful mentor that left the biggest impressions, Msgr. LeFevre said.
Msgr. Schweder passed away on Jan. 4, at the age of 85.
Born in Detroit on March 2, 1934, and ordained on June 4, 1960, Msgr. Schweder served multiple parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit throughout his 60 years as a priest, most recently as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Detroit, where he served from 1995 to 2004.
In his early years, Msgr. Schweder served as associate pastor at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Hazel Park (1960), Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Detroit (1960-63), St. Francis de Sales Parish in Detroit (1963-66), and St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Allen Park (1966-67).
He took on his first pastoral assignment at St. Matthew from 1974-79, and later served as pastor of Holy Name in Detroit (1979-87), Sacred Heart in Grosse Ile and St. Alphonsus in Dearborn (1990-95), before finishing his active service at St. Joseph. Along the way, he also served briefly as administrator at St. Sabina Parish, Dearborn Heights (1972-73) and St. Paul Albanian Parish, Rochester Hills (1987).
Msgr. Schweder also served as director of the Department of Evangelization, Catechesis and Schools for the Archdiocese of Detroit from 1988-90, and as vicar of the Birmingham/Bloomfield/Troy Vicariate (1984-90) and The Hub Vicariate (1995-2004).
He was named a chaplain to His Holiness (monsignor) by Pope St. John Paul II in 1990.
Msgr. LeFevre recalled “Father John” as a skilled administrator with great foresight, taking on each new assignment as a challenge and creating something functional and good out of even the poorest parishes.
“Whatever parish he was at, he took it on as a challenge,” Msgr. LeFevre said. “There he was, grinding away, saying, 'This is where God wants me to be.'”
Ultimately, Msgr. LeFevre said, Msgr. Schweder was very practical, a characteristic that served him and his parishes well. When Msgr. LeFevre was assigned to his first parish in 1993, he immediately called upon Msgr. Schweder for assistance with the budget.
“The practical nature of him was a wonderful gift,” Msgr. LeFevre said. “He helped mentor young priests into what it meant to be an administrator as well as a pastor.”
“He mentored me to respect the folks around you, and he clearly did that (himself),” Msgr. LeFevre said.
Visitation will take place at St. Mary Our Lady Queen of Families Parish (St. Clement site), 25320 Van Dyke, Center Line, on Thursday, Jan. 23 from 9:30 a.m. until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Msgr. Schweder will be buried at St. Clement Cemetery.
Monsignor Schweder was predeceased by his parents, John and Agnes Schweder, as well as his only brother, Michael Schweder. Condolences may be sent to the Archdiocese of Detroit Office of Clergy and Consecrated life, 12 State St., Detroit, MI 48226.
