WHAT: Funeral Mass for Father Joseph Roach
WHEN: 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015
WHERE: Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, 615 Hoyt Ave., Saginaw
SAGINAW — The Rev. Joseph W. Roach, a senior priest of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, died on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015 in California. Father Roach was born on May 17, 1924 in Carrollton, Mich. He received his elementary education at Carrollton Union School in Carrollton and his secondary education at St. Andrew High School and St. Joseph High School, both in Saginaw. He attended St. Joseph Seminary in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Father Roach also attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Mich., where he studied philosophy. He studied theology at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. On May 22, 1948, he was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Rev. William F. Murphy, the first Bishop of Saginaw.
Father Roach served many parishes across the Diocese of Saginaw throughout his priestly ministry. He served as assistant pastor at Sacred Heart, Merrill; St. Joseph, Saginaw and St. Andrew, Saginaw. He served as pastor of St. Elizabeth, Reese; St. John the Baptist, Standish; St. Anthony, Fisherville and St. George, Saginaw. Father Roach also served as diocesan director of Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. He attained Senior Priest status on May 1, 1989.
The funeral Mass for Father Roach will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, 615 Hoyt Ave., Saginaw. The Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone, Bishop of Saginaw, will preside.