Rev. Fr. George Remm

Fr. George Remm, age 89, Pastor Emeritus of St. Patrick’s Parish, Urbana, IL died on May 16, at 7:02 pm Brookdale Assisted Living in Urbana, IL.

His visitation will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 708 W. Main St, Urbana, on Monday, May 20th from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with a Recitation of the Rosary at 6:30.

The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Urbana on Tuesday, May 21st at 11:00 am. with Bishop Louis Tylka, Bishop of the Peoria Diocese presiding, assisted by Fr. Joseph Hogan and con-celebrating priests. The Rite of Committal will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery in Peoria at 3:00 pm Tuesday May 21st, where he will be buried alongside his parents George and Marie.

He was born in Peoria, IL on July 23, 1934. Baptized at St. Joseph Church in Peoria, where his parents were married. Fr. Remm was raised in St. Patrick’s Parish in Peoria, and attended grade school at St. Patrick’s. He graduated from Spaulding Institute in Peoria in 1952, and then attended Jr. College and minor seminary at St. Bede Jr. College in Peru, IL, from 1952-1954. He completed his college education and theology training at the St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN from 1954-1960. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria, IL on May 29, 1960, by Bishop John B. Franz. Ten years after his ordination, Fr. Remm took Liturgical Studies at the summer sessions at Notre Dame University, Notre Dame, IN, completing a Master’s Degree in 1974. His first assignment as a priest was as the third assistant at Holy Trinity Church, Bloomington, IL. In addition to his priestly ministry at the parish, he taught religion at Trinity High School and served as Athletic Director for five years, completed the construction of the first athletic field and assisted in the transition of the parish high school to a community high school, at which time the school was renamed Central Catholic High School. He also assisted in the expansion of the grade school with the building of St. Clare School on the East Side of Bloomington, and Epiphany School in Normal, IL, as well as the replacement of the old Holy Trinity Grade School. He served at Holy Trinity from 1960-1969.

He then served in special ministry for the Diocese of Peoria as the founder and director of the Office of Liturgy, Music, and Art & Architecture, later called the Office of Christian Worship, from 1969-1976. During this time he was in residence and assistance at Sacre Coeur Parish, Creve Coeur, IL from 1969-1971, and at St. Mark’s Parish, Peoria, IL from 1971-1976. His main duty was to assist priests and parishes to adjust to the changes mandated by Vatican Council II, in the area of worship and parish life. He also functioned as Master of Ceremonies under Bishop Edward O’Rourke from 1971-1976. In addition to Diocesan and Parish work, he helped begin and moderate the Diocesan Marriage Encounter program from 1973-1976.

He began his first assignment as Pastor at Visitation and St. Joseph Parishes in Kewanee, IL in 1976. At that time there were four Roman Catholic parishes in Kewanee. At the direction of Bishop O’Rourke, Fr. Remm oversaw the merger of the parishes into St. Mary’s and St. Francis of Assisi. He began the process called “Christ Renews His Parish” which emphasized and supported lay ministry among the people. He also encouraged the laity to begin the Visitation School Foundation, to help provide financial assistance to the parish grade school. In addition to parish work, he continued to oversee the work of the Diocesan Program called “Beginning Experience” to provide support to the divorced and widowed, through weekend programs and local follow up groups.

Fr. Remm came to Champaign-Urbana in 1986, when he was assigned to St. Patrick’s Parish in Urbana. He credited Msgr. Doug Hennessey, who preceded him as pastor of St. Patrick’s with extraordinary work in the formation of the people and the buildings in the principles of Vatican II. He tried to support and build on that initiative. During his time as pastor, the parish celebrated their 100th Anniversary with special observances, including a lecture series with noted national speakers, and the renovation of the parish church. He believed that the strength of the parish was in the faith, talents, enthusiasm, the initiative and participation of the laity, in worship, governance, and mission. Also during his time as pastor, he enjoyed the camaraderie of an ecumenical pastors’ study group, and association with the Champaign-Urbana Ministerial Association.

After serving for 18 years as pastor of St. Patrick’s, Fr. Remm was granted Senior Priests’ Status and title of Pastor Emeritus of St. Patrick’s in 2004. Since that time he has assisted various parishes with weekend help, and in recent years had enjoyed a special relationship with St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Thomasboro and St. Malachy Church in Rantoul. In addition to offering many weekday Masses at Provena Covenant Hospital in Urbana, he has also offered the Latino Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Champaign for many Sunday celebrations.

Fr. Remm was preceded in death by his parents: George and Marie (Schlichtig); and two brothers: Fredrich and Robert.

He is survived by his niece: Beth (Paul) Juszczyk of Mason Ohio, nephews: Tom (Connie) Remm of Milford, OH, and John (Melissa) Remm of Fountain Hills, AZ, and their children.

He requested that in place of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Patrick’s Catholic Education Foundation or St. Mary’s Latino Community.

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