The Parish of St. Joseph will conduct funeral services for Pastor Emeritus Rev. James Sayers at a 7 p.m. Mass on Monday, Dec. 15.
The community is invited to pay their respects to Sayers from 2 to 7 p.m. on Monday when his body will lie in state in St. Joseph Church, 17951 Dixie Highway.
Bishop Joseph Perry will celebrate the mass of Christian burial, with other priests concelebrating. Deacon Jack O’Leary will deliver the homily.
Burial will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday from the church parking lot and proceed to Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery for the internment ceremony
Fr. Sayers died on Monday, Dec. 8, from complications following surgery. He was 82. He had been living in Naples, Florida, since retiring in 2002. He was born in Chicago and raised in the Englewood neighborhood attending St. Brendan Catholic School at 67th and Racine Avenue.
The late Samuel Cardinal Stritch ordained Sayers a priest 56 years ago. Sayers completed his education at Quigley Preparatory Seminary High School in Chicago and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.
He served parishes throughout the Chicago Archdiocese, including Visitation Parish from 1958 to 1965; St. Kilan Parish from 1965 to 1971; St. Germaine Parish from 1971 to 1977; and St. Thomas More Parish from 1977 to 1980.
Fr. Sayers was appointed pastor of St. Joseph’s in 1980 where he served for the next 22 years. He took responsibility for a major physical plant, including dedicating the former convent to honor retired pastor Fr. Joseph Burke, whom he had succeeded as pastor. He also worked closely with Sister Nancy Fischer, principal of St. Joseph School. During his years at St. Joseph the number of parish ministries grew, including a thriving music program.
It was Sayers’ initiative to replace the yellow glass windows with beautiful stained glass windows that are dedicated to former parishioners.
In 2001, he agreed to host Our Lady of the Millennium, the 34-foot tall statute of the Blessed Virgin. Placing it in the church parking lot gave local Catholics a chance to admire and venerate before the statute. Sayers also had the carillon bells installed in memory of his dear friend, James Campbell.
Although he left the Chicago area in 2002, St. Joseph’s current pastor, Fr. Richard Kozak, always assured Sayers that he would be welcomed back to St. Joe’s any time. His last visit was in June 2012 when he helped mark the parish’s 100th anniversary.
Contact Marilyn Thomas at [email protected]
Photo courtesy of Thomas Photographic Services, Homewood.