Home > News > Friars Enter Eternal Life > Rev. Michael Schweifler, O.S.A.

Rev. Michael Schweifler, O.S.A. (1955 - 2009)

Rev. Michael Schweifler, O.S.A. entered eternal life July 26, 2009, after a four-year struggle to regain his health and strength following heart replacement surgery in 2005.

Michael Schweifler was born in 1955 in Grand Haven, Michigan to Peter and Ruth Schweifler. He was Baptized in 1955 at St. Patrick Church, Grand Haven. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation in 1966 at the same church.

Michael received his elementary education at St. Patrick School, Grand Haven. He entered the Augustinian minor seminary program in 1969 at St. Augustine Seminary, Holland, Michigan, where he earned his high school diploma in 1973. He continued in the Augustinian Pre-Novitiate Program at Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, earning a B. A. in History in 1977.

He was received into the Augustinian Novitiate September 1, 1977. He professed simple (temporary) vows in the Order of St. Augustine September 2, 1978 and solemn (permanent) vows December 31, 1982.

From 1978 to 1980, he resided at St. John Stone Friary, Chicago, Illinois, and pursued theological studies at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. In 1980 and 1981 he taught at St. Rita High School, Chicago. He returned in 1981 to St. John Stone Friary to complete his theological studies. He did a Diaconate Internship at St. Joseph Parish, Pekin, Illinois, in 1983 and 1984. He earned an M. Div. from Catholic Theological Union in 1984, and was ordained a Priest May 11, 1984.

Father Schweifler taught at Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago, from 1984 to 1987. He was Associate Pastor of St. Gregory Parish, Cambridge, Ontario, from 1987 to 1990. He joined the faculty of Cascia Hall, Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1990. He taught at Cascia Hall until 2001. In addition, he was named Prior of the Augustinian Community in 1995 and Campus Minister of the school in 1999. Besides his duties at Cascia Hall, Father Schweifler also served as Administrator of three Parishes: St. Joseph, Cleveland, Oklahoma (1993), St. John, Pawnee, Oklahoma (1993) and St. Vincent, Loweta, Oklahoma (1998).

In 2001 Father Schweifler was named Associate Pastor of St. Jude Parish, New Lenox, Illinois, a position which he held until the time of his death.

For many years Father Schweifler had experienced heart problems. He underwent a heart transplant Easter Sunday, March 27, 2005. His recovery was slow, with several setbacks, but he continued to improve, and was able to resume some ministries on a limited basis. However, at the end of May, 2009 he developed a serious infection, broke a leg and suffered a heart attack. He was hospitalized for treatment, but never recovered. He died July 26, 2009 at Loyola Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois.

Father Schweifler is remembered as a good priest and a good Augustinian friar: generous, jovial, fun-loving, energetic, affirming, a man of uncompromising faith and monumental perseverance. He found joy in simplicity, and the extraordinary in ordinary moments of life. He prayed hard, suffered greatly and loved much . . . and taught and touched many people in the process. He particularly enjoyed ministry to children, whom he understood and with whom he was able to communicate effectively.

He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be made to Augustinian Guild, 5401 S. Cornell Ave., Chicago, IL 60615-5664, or via Augustinian Guild Secure On-line Giving.

       » See eulogy delivered by Michael Loeffler during Memorial Mass at Cascia Hall, Tulsa (.rtf format - Opens new window)