Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / Fr. LoGrasso remembered for his compassion, humor
Fr. LoGrasso remembered for his compassion, humor
by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published September 12, 2008
Detroit — Fr. Pasquale LoGrasso, known simply as "Pasquale" by friends and former staff, was known as a hard worker and kind, compassionate man — who liked to play jokes on his staff. – his friends recalled after his death Sept. 5. He was 76.
Anna Jackson, parish secretary at St. Louis, Clinton Township, was nicknamed "Anna Banana" by Fr. LoGrasso and, unfortunately for her, it stuck. The two worked together for years after his assignment to the parish.
She called him compassionate, loving and soft-spoken, yet pastoral. "He was a wonderful man and a great priest," she said. "If you needed to talk, he was there. He'd listen as long as you needed."
He always had his phone on at home, she remembered, and if he was needed at the hospital, he'd go, no matter what time of day it was. Msgr. Herman Kucyk, who was ordained with Fr. LoGrasso in 1957, remembers that when Fr. LoGrasso came to Detroit from Italy to study at St. John's Provincial Seminary, "he couldn't speak a stitch of English." Classes were in Latin, and since the two sat next to each other, Msgr. Kucyk helped by translating.
However, within a couple of weeks and with lots of hard work and studying, Fr. LoGrasso had a good understanding of the language. "He was quite smart," Msgr. Kucyk remembered, even though Fr. LoGrasso was one of the youngest seminarians in their class.
The two remained close for a few years after ordination, but went their separate ways with different assignments. The class continued to get together once a year for a kind of reunion, he remembered, and he would catch up with his friend then.
He was as comfortable to be around as "an old shoe," Msgr. Kucyk laughed.
Pat Schmidt, a 45-year member of St. Louise de Marillac Parish, Warren, another one of Fr. LoGrasso's assignments, remembers that he wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty doing work at the parish. When Schmidt and her husband chaired the parish festival years ago, Fr. LoGrasso put his name on the chairperson list right along with them, she remembered.
"When we had manual work to do, he was pastor, and mechanic, and everything," she said.
Schmidt said Fr. LoGrasso was a "warm and friendly" pastor who made a lot of friends. While he was at St. Louise, members of the parish threw him a party for his 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.
"He was a wonderful, warm and friendly minister to our people," she said.
Jackson remembers that he ministered to more than just the members of his parish: He'd cared for an uncle, and also his aged mother until she died. She said Fr. LoGrasso enjoyed reading religious books, and loved the children of the parish, especially babies.
"He always tried to make them laugh," she remembered.
She also remembered that he would sneak up behind his staff and clap his hands to startle them. Since he had birdfeeders on the parish grounds, he would startle the squirrels that came around, too — running outside clapping his hands, laughing at how fast they ran up the tree, Jackson remembered.
"He was a great kibitzer," she said. "He tried to pull stunts on us all the time."
Fr. LoGrasso was born Aug. 27, 1932, in Terrasini, Sicily, Italy, to Joseph and Maria (Gracchiolo) LoGrasso. He studied in seminary in Italy and at St. John's, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 1, 1957.
He served as associate pastor at St. Rita, Detroit (1957-58); Patronage of St. Joseph, Detroit (1958-59); St. Jude, Detroit (1959-64); and St. Martin of Tours, Detroit (1964-67); and as pastor at St. David, Detroit (1967-77); St. Louise de Marillac, Warren (1977-85); and St. Louis, Clinton Township (1985-2002). He attained senior priest status in 2002.
Wake services were held earlier this week with funeral Mass on Tuesday at St. Louis. Burial was to follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Clinton Township.
Fr. LoGrasso is survived by his sister, Mary Maiorano. Condolences may be sent to her at 14960 Stoney Brook Drive, Shelby Township, 48315.
Related Link:
 Death Notice: Fr. Pasquale LoGrasso
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