Reverend Monsignor Robert Raymond Servatius

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Reverend Monsignor Robert Raymond Servatius

Priest of the Diocese of Salt Lake City

Jan. 1, 1938 – Aug. 11, 2017

 Monsignor Robert Raymond Servatius died in a South Jordan rehabilitation center on Aug. 11, 2017 of age-related causes. He was 79.   

Robert Raymond Servatius was born Jan. 1, 1938 in Syracuse, N.Y., the son of Raymond L. Servatius and Mary D. Lambruscati, both deceased. In 1949, his family moved to Salt Lake City, where he attended Judge Memorial School (1949-1952) and Judge Memorial High School, Salt Lake City (1952-1956). He studied for the priesthood at Saint Joseph College, Mountain View, Calif., and Saint Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park, Calif. (1956-1964). He was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood for the Diocese of Salt Lake City on May 23, 1964 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine by the Most Reverend Joseph Lennox Federal.   

During his long life of ministry, Msgr. Servatius served in his early years (1964 to 1979) as assistant pastor at Saint Joseph Parish, Ogden; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Salt Lake City; and Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Kearns. He taught at Judge Memorial Catholic High School, was administrator of Notre Dame High School, Price, as well as at Saint Joseph High School, Ogden. Father Servatius was the editor of the Intermountain Catholic Register, and chaplain of the Newman Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

His first assignment as pastor was at Notre Dame Parish, Price from 1979 to 1984. In 1980, he was appointed moderator of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, and from 1984 to 1986 he served at the diocesan Pastoral Center as the Family Life Director.

His most significant assignment was as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Sandy, from 1986 until his retirement in 2016. There he oversaw the expansion of the school and construction of the new church. During those years he also served as the DCCW moderator (for which he was also the National Spiritual Advisor from 2002-2006 and again from 2008-2012), dean of the Wasatch Deanery, chairman of the Lay Ministry Advisory Office, six five-year terms as a Diocesan Consultor and Defender of the Bond for the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal. He was a dedicated chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and ardent supporter of youth ministry.

On Feb. 2, 1994, he was elevated to Prelate of Honor with the title “Monsignor” by Pope John Paul II, and in November of 2001 he was invested into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (Knight).

Msgr. Servatius was known for his sense of humor and his generous and compassionate pastoral care. He loved to take groups on pilgrimage to Italy and cherished especially his role as moderator of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women over the years. He had a true pastor’s heart.  

Msgr. Servatius is survived by his younger brother, Paul William Servatius. He was pre-deceased by his parents and brother David Servatius.  

Special thanks are due to the many parishioners and friends who assisted Msgr. Servatius over the years, especially Mrs. Sharon S. Jackson, his pastoral associate and friend for many years.

Viewing will be on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 309 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, with the Vigil celebrated at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 11 a.m. at the cathedral. Burial will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Funeral arrangements handled through Neil O’Donnell & Sons Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Priests Mutual Benefit Society (27 C St., Salt Lake City, UT 84103).