Father James
Lothamer, PSS, PhD, passed into the warm embrace of eternal love on November 1,
2019 on All Saints Day, at the age of 76.
Born James William
Lothamer in Coldwater, MI on November 9, 1942 to John and Helen (Cox) Lothamer,
he was the second child of a family of 14 siblings.
As a young man, he
attended Coldwater St. Charles School before entering St. Charles Seminary in
Columbus, Ohio where he received his undergraduate degree. He completed his
seminary training at St. John’s Seminary in Plymouth, MI.
Prior to his
ordination to the priesthood, he joined the Society of St. Sulpice, a French
order of priest teachers that conducted higher education for priests and lay
ministers throughout the world.
Fr. Jim was assigned
to St. Mary’s College in Baltimore, MD, where he remained for 20 years of his
ministry. While in his teaching and administrative duties at St. Mary’s he took
a sabbatical to the University of Toronto where he earned doctorate degrees in
Theology and Philosophy.
Returning to Michigan
in the early 1990’s, Fr. Lothamer served as Pastor and Intermediate Pastor at
the following Churches: St. Joseph, Adrian; St. Agnes, Fowlerville; St. John
Student Chapel, East Lansing; St. Mary, Pinckney; St. Mary, Charlotte; St. Ann,
Bellevue; St. Mary, Bronson; St. Mary, Morrice. Each parish brought new friends
and relationships that he cherished and maintained.
A three-year interim was
spent in Menlow Park, CA, as director of a Sulpician Retreat Center for
Catholic Priest.
A long life of servitude
and involvement as a priest, teacher, friend, and family member, Fr. Lothamer
led a life focusing on the importance of community, social action, and the
mystical love of God. He was always generous with his intellect and resources,
and his homilies are noted for the deep and powerful teaching truths that
pervaded his texts.
Among Fr. Lothamer’s
loves were company, study, travel and family ancestry. Connecting his American
family with their European counterparts through his language skills, he
cemented family ties. He delighted in sitting in the French/German countryside
sharing conversations and a glass of wine with his European cousins.
Fr. Jim was well
loved by his large family. He knew each person from the oldest to the youngest
and, as one nephew shared, “He was always nearby.” Fr. Lothamer’s life journey
involved prayer, knowledge and heart. He will be missed by all who benefited
from his ministry and presence.
Fr. Jim
is survived by his sisters, Susanne Colligan, Sharon Harrington, Rose
Bonvillain, and Helen Malinowski; his brothers, Peter, Jesse, Timothy, Simon,
Joseph, Patrick, Jerry, and Christopher.
He was preceded in death by his
brother, Jack; and his parents.
Friends are encouraged to pay
tribute to Fr. Jim during the following services. A Rosary will be held at 4:30
p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019 at
the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Fowlerville, MI. Visitation will follow from 5-7:00 p.m. and a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.
A second visitation will be held on Friday, November
8, 2019, at the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Fowlerville, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
followed by the Funeral Mass at 6:30 p.m.
A third visitation will be held on
Saturday, November 9, 2019 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church
in Bellevue (Fr. Jim’s birthday) with a Prayer Service at 10:30.
Interment will
follow the Prayer Service at Riverside Cemetery in Bellevue, MI.
If desired, the family
suggests memorial contributions be made to The Lothamer Family Burse of Zambia,
checks payable to The Society of St. Sulpice. Cards may be sent to the St.
Agnes Catholic Church in Fowlerville.
Friends and family are asked to share memories of
Fr. James Lothamer on his Tribute Page at
www.PrayFuneral.com
.
The family
is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
