Let us keep the souls and the families of the faithful departed in our prayers:

Reverend Jerome P. Laubacker, O. de M.
We recently learned that Reverend Jerome P. Laubacker, O. de M., 74, a retired member of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (Mercedarian Order), passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Bay Village, Ohio.

In 2000, Father Laubacker was relocated to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, where he was appointed Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg and was later appointed as Pastor of Transfiguration Parish, St. Petersburg, an office he held until 2006 before returning to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Cleveland, where he began his priestly ministry.  During his final years, Father Laubacker was a resident at O’Neill Health Care Center, in Bay Village, Ohio.

A Funeral Mass is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17, 2018, 10:30 a.m. at St. Rocco Catholic Church, Cleveland, Ohio.  Interment will take place on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at Cold Spring Cemetery, Lockport, New York.

Please keep Father Laubacker’s surviving family members and his fellow Mercedarians in your prayers during this difficult time.

Reverend Charles E. Yost, S.C.J.
We were only recently informed of the death of Reverend Charles E. Yost, 85, a retired member of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on Saturday, July 8, 2017, while under Hospice care at Monastery Lake in Franklin, Wisconsin.

Father Yost was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He made his first profession of vows in 1951 and was ordained for the Priests of the Sacred Heart on May 31, 1958.  During his 59 years of priestly ministry, Father Yost served as a member of the faculty and administration of Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, while also serving as chaplain for the Ancilla Domini Convent, in Milwaukee.  He also spent two years in missionary work for the order, while stationed in Indonesia.

In addition, Father Yost spent spent five years in parish ministry in Texas, California and Mississippi.  From 1987 to 1993, he worked with the retired members of the Priests of the Sacred Heart in Pinellas Park.  He was later transferred to Mississippi, where he served as spiritual director to what is now known as Sacred Heart Southern Missions.  Father Yost would later return to Pinellas Park, where he lived in retirement with his confreres until early 2011, when he was transferred to Wisconsin.

A Funeral Mass was held on July 13, 2017.  Father Yost is buried in the Sacred Heart Mausoleum, in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.

Deacon Lee Hinderscheid
Deacon Lee Hinderscheid, from St. Joan of Arc Parish, Spring Hill, passed away on Thursday April 12, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Ann Elizabeth of 59 years. Deacon Lee was ordained for the Diocese of Cleveland on May 18, 1996. He moved to the Diocese of St. Petersburg in December of 2000 and assigned to St. Joan of Arc, where he served from December 2000 to June 2006, and again from April 2007 until he became inactive in late 2017. He was also assigned to Our Lady of the Rosary, Land O’ Lakes  from June 2006 to April 2007. Deacon Lee was 81.

The visitation for Deacon Lee will be held on Thursday April 19, 2018 at Turners Funeral Home, 14360 Spring Hill Rd, Spring Hill, FL 34609 from 2 pm to 4 pm, and again from 7 pm to 9 pm; with a Wake Service at 7 pm offered by Rev. Pat Rebel. The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, April 20, 2018 at 10 am, with Bishop Emeritus Robert Lynch as the main celebrant at St. Joan of Arc, 13485 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill FL 34609. Expressions of sympathy for the Hinderscheid family may be sent to the parish.

Deacons who are able to vest are to bring their white and gold dalmatic, vesting will take place in the priest sacristy.

Please keep Ann Elizabeth and the family close in thought and prayer at this most difficult time.

Deacon Michael P. Columbus
Deacon Michael Columbus, 86, passed away on Sunday, April 15, 2018. Born in Bakerton, PA, on June 5, 1931 to Michael and Camilla (DeBernardi) Columbus, he moved to St. Petersburg in 1969. Michael was a Senior Master Sargent in the United States Air Force, serving during Vietnam and was awarded the Airman’s Medal for Heroism. He served as a permanent deacon at Holy Family Catholic Church for 27 years.

Michael is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Irene; children, Michael J. Columbus (Maureen), Timothy J. Columbus, Sr. (Delma), Renee M. Sutherland (Ken), Jamie E. Columbus (Kathy); grandchildren, Kenny, Jr., Jennifer, Staci, Tim Jr., Brendan, Danielle, Ally, Michael; sisters, Josephine Valenty, Camilla Price; host of nieces, nephews and friends.

There will be a visitation on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 from 6 pm-9 pm with wake service at 8 pm at Anderson McQueen, 2201 Dr. ML King St. N., St. Petersburg.  His funeral Mass on Thursday, April 19th at 10 am at Holy Family Parish, 200 78th Ave. NE., St. Petersburg, with interment following at Calvary Catholic Cemetery with military honors.  Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch, Bishop Emeritus, will be the celebrant.  Deacons who are able to vest are to bring their white and gold dalmatic.
(Complete obituary at this link.)

Please keep  Irene and their family in your prayers.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.