SAGINAW- The Rev. James Francis Gavit, a senior priest of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, died on Thursday, March 2, 2017. Father Gavit was born in Saginaw on April 22, 1929 to the late Jennings and Grace (Guest) Gavit. He received his elementary and high school education at St. Mary School in Saginaw.
Father Gavit began his priestly formation at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and continued formation at St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Mich. and Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, Italy. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1954 at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, in Saginaw by the Most Rev. Stephen S. Woznicki, the second Bishop of Saginaw.
Father Gavit served as vicar general, chancellor, vice chancellor and pro synodal judge and regional vicar for the Diocese of Saginaw. Father Gavit served many parishes across the Diocese of Saginaw throughout his priestly ministry. He served as pastor at St. Matthew, Zilwaukee; Holy Spirit, Shields; St. Christopher, Bridgeport; St. George, Saginaw and St. Maria Goretti, Bay City. He served as assistant pastor at St. Pancratius, Cass City; St. Boniface, Bay City and Ss. Peter and Paul, Saginaw. Father Gavit attained senior priest status in 2004.
The Funeral Mass for Father Gavit will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 8, at Holy Spirit Parish Church,1035 N. River Rd., Saginaw. The Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone, Bishop of Saginaw, will preside and the homily will be given by Rev. Steven Gavit, nephew of Father James Gavit and pastor of St. Dominic Parish, Saginaw.
Visitation will take place at the church on Tuesday, March 7, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of Mass. The Vigil for the Deceased will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church and will be led by Rev. Peter Gaspeny, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Holy Spirit Parish, Saginaw. Thoughts and memories may be shared with the family at the church and through www.snowfuneralhome.net