Bishop Robert J. Carlson has released a statement for Catholic voters preparing for the November 4 General Election. Read it here.

Saginaw's St. Helen is a 'Cool School'

SAGINAW - WNEM TV 5 featured St. Helen School in Saginaw as a "Cool School" on its Friday morning broadcast.

Check out the video: http://www.wnem.com/video/17738614/

Rest in peace: Obituary for Fr. Robert G. Navarre

SAGINAW – Father Robert G. Navarre, 89, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, died Thursday, October 2, 2008 at the Toni and Trish House in Fisherville.

Father Navarre was born on March 2, 1919 in Essexville, son of Leo and Mary Navarre. He attended St. John the Evangelist Parish and School in Essexville before studying for the priesthood at St. Joseph Seminary in Grand Rapids, Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore. He was ordained on February, 24, 1945 by Bishop William F. Murphy at St. Mary Cathedral in Saginaw.

During his priesthood, Father Navarre served as an assistant pastor at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Bay City, and St. Andrew Parish, Saginaw. He served as pastor at St. Felix Parish, Pinnebog; St. Roch Parish, Caseville; St. Denis Parish, Lexington; Sacred Heart Parish, Bad Axe; St. Helen Parish, Saginaw; St. Cecilia Parish, Clare; St. Michael Parish, Maple Grove; and St. Mary Parish, Albee. He was granted senior priest (retired) status in 1989.

Father Navarre is survived by three sisiters: Rosemary Pope, Margaret Miller, and Maureen Poirer; sister-in-law, Betty Navarre; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he also was preceeded in death by a sister and two brothers, Katharine Bergevin, John Navarre Sr., and Joseph Navarre.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. today, Monday, October 6, 2008, at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Essexville with Bishop Robert J. Carlson presiding. Burial will follow at St. Partrick Cemetery in Bay City.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Toni and Trish House or St. John the Evangelist Parish. Arrangements were entrusted to the care of W. A. Trahan Funeral Chapel.