The Reverend Monsignor James Lawrence Brucksch went home to God, on October 18, 2024. He was born
in Saginaw, Michigan on May 27, 1943, the son of Alvin Brucksch and Lorena Riehle Brucksch. Msgr. Brucksch attended St. Joseph’s High School Seminary in Grand Rapids, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth. On June 7, 1969, Msgr. Brucksch was ordained a Catholic Priest for the Diocese of Saginaw, becoming an incardinated priest of the Diocese of Gaylord when the diocese was formed in 1971.
Msgr. Brucksch served a number of parishes in the Diocese of Gaylord as Assistant Pastor and/or Pastor, including St. Anne’s Parish, Alpena; St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Traverse City; St. Dominic Parish, Metz; St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Mancelona; Mission of St. Luke, Bellaire; Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Prudenville; St. Helen Parish, St. Helen; Sacred Heart Parish, Oscoda; St. Anne Parish, Harrisville; and St. Raphael Parish, Mikado.
Also included in his ministry were many diocesan appointments, which include Diocesan Director of Liturgy, Vicar of the Central Region, College of Consultors, member of the Presbyteral Council, Vicar of the Southeast Region, Vicar General, and member of the Priests’ Retirement Fund Board. Additionally, Msgr. Brucksch represented the Diocese of Gaylord on the Pastoral Advisory Committee for “The Catholic Weekly.” He was named a “Prelate of Honor” by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. Following his retirement in 2008, Msgr. Brucksch remained active in the diocese, assisting at many parishes.
Visitation will take place from 4:00-6:00 pm on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at Sacred Heart Parish in Oscoda with a Vigil service following at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 25, 2024, at Sacred Heart Parish, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m., with The Most Reverend Jeffrey J. Walsh, Bishop of Gaylord, presiding.
