SAGINAW — Father James Gilbert Heller, 78, a senior priest and former vicar general of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, died on May 7, 2020 at St. Ann’s Home in Grand Rapids due to complications related to the COVID-19 virus. He was born in Bay City, Michigan on February 16, 1942 to Gilbert and Adelaide Heller. He was pre-deceased by his parents Gilbert and Adelaide Heller, his sister and brother-in-law Doris and William Monroe, his niece Jane Hetner, and his infant brother Ronald Heller.
Father Jim generously served as a priest for more than 51 years.
He received his elementary education at St. Mary of the Assumption School in Bay City, and his secondary education at St. Mary of the Assumption High School in Bay City. After his graduation in 1960, he began his priestly formation at the new St. Paul Seminary in Saginaw. He continued his formation at Holy Cross Seminary in La Crosse, Wisconsin where he graduated with a degree in philosophy. He studied theology at the North American College in Rome and was ordained by Bishop Francis Reh on December 20, 1968 at the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome.
He was appointed as an Associate Pastor at Holy Rosary Parish in Saginaw in 1969, and then as Associate Pastor at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Saginaw from 1970 to 1974. Bishop Reh then appointed him to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Saginaw where he served on a Pastoral Team from 1974 to 1982.
Bishop Kenneth Untener appointed him as Director of the Church Ministries Office where he served from 1982 to 1989.
Father Jim returned to pastoral service in 1989, serving as pastor at St. Philip Neri in Coleman and St. Anne parishes. In 1996, he was assigned to his home parish of St. Mary’s in Bay City, where he also served as Vicar of Vicariate VIII. His final pastorate was at St. Stephen’s parish in Saginaw from 2005 to 2014, when he became a senior priest of the Diocese.
Father Jim believed that since a priest is ordained to the service of the Diocese, he was called to be of service beyond a particular parish or diocesan office. Therefore, throughout his ministry, he served in a variety of roles and on various committees and organizations, such as: the Michigan Catholic Conference, The Senate of Priests, the Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Diocesan Finance Council, Clergy Personnel Board, Regional Vicar, Vicar General, St. Mary’s of Michigan Advisory Board and Ethics Committee, and as a board member for the Little Books of the Diocese of Saginaw and the Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan. Mostly, he loved serving the people of God, preaching and celebrating the sacraments with them.
Father Jim was fluent in three languages, a voracious reader, a lover of all types of music, had an appreciation of art, was a lifetime enthusiastic Detroit Tigers fan and season ticket holder and a caring soul. He spent the last 19 months of his life at St. Ann’s Home in Grand Rapids, where he made many friends among the residents and staff, and where he could frequently be seen walking the hallways greeting whomever he met with a smile and conversation.
A private burial will take place at St. Patrick Cemetery's Priests' Section, Bay City, Mich.
Memorials in Father Jim’s memory may be made or sent to the Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan (CCFMM) by clicking here to access their website and specifying ‘The Gilbert and Adelaide Heller Endowment Fund’ in the ‘Message/Details’ section of the webpage, or by sending it to the Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan, 5800 Weiss Street, Saginaw, MI 48603-2779. The Gilbert and Adelaide Heller Endowment Fund is a philanthropic charity created by Father Jim’s late parents to provide assistance to many institutions. Father Jim spoke of its valuable charity work often.
To read more or leave a message for the family, click here.