byFather Robert M. O'Grady Pilot Staff
Father John E. Schatzel Pilot file photo
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Medford native, Father John E. Schatzel died at Regina Cleri, Boston, on June 27, 2024. The only child of the late John and Mary (McHale) Schatzel, born Nov. 20, 1934, he was raised in Quincy, attending St. Mary School there before enrolling at Boston College High School. Graduated from BC High in 1952, he went to the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, and graduated in 1956.
He entered St. John Seminary, Brighton, a member of the Class of 1961. Boston Auxiliary Bishop Jeremiah Minihan ordained him at Holy Name Church, West Roxbury, on Feb. 2, 1961. Half of the class was ordained at Holy Name, and the other half, at the cathedral by Richard Cardinal Cushing.
The cardinal gave Father Schatzel his first assignment as an assistant at St. Ann in Boston's Neponset section. He stayed for the rest of the decade before being named an associate at Immaculate Conception Parish, Weymouth. Another decade would pass before he was sent farther south, this time as associate at St. Peter. Plymouth.
The Plymouth assignment, the shortest of any of his assignments, was with the intention of forming a new parish in the largest town in the archdiocese. A mere two years later, he was named the founding pastor of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Plymouth.
He moved quickly assembling a temporary worship space and a rectory/office facility, both using prefabricated structures -- then considered a new construction concept, especially for parish facilities.
Keeping to the "10-year" plan after a decade in Plymouth, he was named pastor at St. Colman of Cloyne Parish in Brockton on April 13, 1993. Just about 10 years later, Cardinal Bernard Law granted him senior priest status on Nov. 20, 2002, his 68th birthday.
For more than two decades, he lived in the family home in Pembroke. He was anything but retired. He served in area parishes, both as fill-in for Sundays and weekdays. He was not shy about his liturgical "preferences" -- demands would be more accurate. He wanted it "done by the book" and that meant, among other "requirements," singing when required or preferred at Mass, participation by various ministers, and a noble simplicity.
One of his hobbies was trains. He traveled as much as possible by train. I think someone once told me, "He never flew." He had a miniature train collection at his home in Pembroke.
In later years, he was of immense assistance to brother priests and the archdiocese, serving as the coordinator of funerals. He had a delicate task in some cases having to reconcile a priest's stated plans for his funeral and those that the family "preferred." He also urged, in some cases cajoled priests, to provide such final details to avoid "dilemmas" in the future.
As age took its toll, he stepped aside from that responsibility. Creating a vacuum with this change, The Pilot staff missed his timely, accurate, and comprehensive information and availability to suggest places and people for more information about a deceased priest.
Not surprising, he took care that his own funeral was well planned.
The funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph the Worker Church, Hanson, on July 13, 2024.
Merrimack Regional Bishop Robert F. Hennessey was the principal celebrant and homilist. Bishops concelebrating were Auxiliary Bishop Mark O'Connell; Bishop Emeritus of Portland, Robert P. Deeley; and Boston Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Arthur L. Kennedy.
Among the 25 concelebrating priests were South Regional Vicar, Father Robert Connors; Father Timothy Harrison, Immaculate Conception, Newburyport; Father Francis O'Brien, Sacred Heart, Lexington; and Father Joseph Raeke, Mary Queen of Martyrs, Plymouth.
Father Schatzel was buried with his parents at St. Mary Cemetery, Quincy.