Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2009 / Fr. Herman connected with others, worked with poor
Fr. Herman connected with others, worked with poor
by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published October 23, 2009
Detroit - Fr. Jerome Herman had a collection of sayings he would often repeat; one of them was: "Accept everything and assist all."
His sister, Sr. Mary DeSales Herman, CSSF, said he took the "assist all" part to heart, spending 30 years after his retirement in Stuart, Fla., working with the poor and providing them with food, clothing and medical care. "He was always asking me, 'Have we remembered the poor recently?'" she said.
Fr. Herman died Oct. 18 after a brief illness. He was 92.
In his younger days, Fr. Herman was a great athlete, his sister remembered, playing basketball, football and tennis. That helped him relate to his students "exceptionally well." "The students just loved him," she said. "He could bring the word of God to them."
Sr. Herman also remembered her brother's gift for teaching and giving homilies that quickly got to the point. "He had a lot of wit, a lot of humor," she said.
She remembered her brother as being very intelligent, studying for a master's in social work from Loyola University, and as a man of profound thoughts. Some of his other sayings she had written down over the years were: "Go wherever they will walk on you," and "Do what you need, not what you want."
He also loved the Beatitudes, considering them "alive anointing for life with God," as he used to say.
During his ministry, Fr. Herman brought back many Catholics who had strayed from their faith, "bringing back the lost sheep to the fold," his sister said. After he retired, in addition to serving the poor, he also set up a summer catechesis program for children, providing them with all the supplies they needed to learn about the Church.
Sr. Herman visited her brother once a year while he was in Florida, and since he moved back to the area, to Livonia's Senior Clergy Village, he enjoyed swimming at the Livonia Rec Center and saying daily Mass, but otherwise kept to himself. They'd do small things together, she said, such as take trips to thrift stores. He also liked reading religious and political books and articles.
Fr. Herman was born July 15, 1917 in Detroit, to John and Mary Herman, and attended St. Hyacinth Grade School, Detroit, and St. Mary Preparatory and College, Orchard Lake. He attended seminary in Cincinnati and was ordained Dec. 18, 1943 in Detroit, celebrating his first Mass at St. Hyacinth Parish, Detroit.
He served as associate pastor of Sweetest Heart of Mary Parish, Detroit (1944-49) and teacher at the parish school; chaplain at St. Francis Hospital, Hamtramck (1949-51); associate pastor of St. Francis D'Assisi Parish, Detroit (1951); associate pastor of Resurrection Parish, Detroit (1952); in residence at Transfiguration Parish, Detroit (1954); associate pastor of St. Thecla Parish, Clinton Township (1957-59); associate pastor of St. Michael Parish, Pontiac (1959); associate pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish, Dearborn Heights (1959-60); associate pastor of St. Clement Parish, Center Line (1960); associate pastor at St. Genevieve, Livonia (1963); in residence at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit (1969); temporary administrator at St. Barnabas Parish, Eastpointe (1969-70); and pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, Detroit (1970-76).
Funeral Mass was Wednesday at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit, with burial following at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.
Fr. Herman is survived by his sister, Sr. Herman; a brother, Anthony (Irene); several nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. He is predeceased by his parents and siblings Chester Herman, Stanley Herman, John Herman, and Anna Szczerbinski.
Condolences to Sr. Mary DeSales Herman, CSSF, 36800 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia, 48150. Memorials suggested to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Felician Sisters Retirement Fund, Senior Clergy Retirement Fund, and Angela Hospice.
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