REVEREND MONSIGNOR WILLIAM JOSEPH BLACET was the son of Lillian Sabina (nee Streuber) and John E. Blacet and the brother of Catherine, Helen, Lucille (aka Jeanne Marie), John, Margie, and Elizabeth.
Msgr. Blacet attended Cathedral of St. Joseph grade school, (where he was known to have told the sisters that he wanted to be a hobo when he grew up so that he could jump on freight trains and travel everywhere) and graduated from Christian Brothers High School. Not only was he valedictorian of his high school class, but was also on the basketball team, the debate team, and played the clarinet. He graduated from Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis and was ordained for the Diocese of St. Joseph on Dec. 21, 1946. At the 70-year anniversary of his ordination, he recalled his first assignment was assisting at Holy Rosary parish in St. Joseph and, with his pastor, finally got to hitch a ride in a freight car. There had been a death in a family who lived in two abandoned rail cars in a rural area, and Msgr. Rupp invited his new assistant to accompany him to pray for the deceased with the family. The pastor jumped on the train near the back, and the young Father Blacet of course followed suit. After comforting the family and praying over the deceased, the two priests walked the mile or so back to Holy Rosary Parish. Msgr. Blacet recalled thinking, “Thank you, God. This is the priesthood!”
He was reassigned to Cathedral Parish in 1950, where he served for almost a decade before going as pastor to St. James Parish in Liberty in the still new Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Msgr. Blacet was elevated to Papal Chamberlain in 1957 and Domestic Prelate in 1968. He served as pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes-KC, St. Thomas More and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception before being assigned to Our Lady of Good Counsel in 1992.
He received a licentiate in Canon Law in 1950, from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In addition to his parish work, Msgr. Blacet served as Vice-Chancellor; Secretary of the Matrimonial Curia; Defensor Vinculi; Assistant Chancellor; Vice-Officialis and Censor Liborum for the St. Joseph Diocese; Censor Liborum and Diocesan Consultor for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and in 2006 was elevated to Protonotary Apostolic.
OBITUARY IN THE KANSAS CITY STAR SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2020...
Monsignor William J. Blacet, 98, passed away on Father’s Day, June 21, 2020. Vigil schedules may be found at www.goodcounselkc.org. Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held. Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church.
Monsignor Blacet was born the son of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Blacet in St. Joseph, MO. He graduated from Cathedral Elementary and Christian Brothers High School where he was valedictorian of his senior class, St. Joseph, MO, attended Conception Seminary, St. Louis Prep and Kenrick Seminary and then was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Charles LeBlond at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, December 21, 1946. Monsignor Blacet received his J.C.L degree from the Catholic University of Washington, D.C in 1950. He served the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph for over 70 years at, Holy Rosary, St. Joseph, MO, St. James Parish, Liberty, MO, Our Lady of Lourdes, Raytown, St. Thomas More Church, The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Good Counsel, all of Kansas City, MO. In addition to his parish work, Monsignor Blacet served as Vice-Chancellor; Secretary of the Matrimonial Curia; Defensor Vinculi; Assistant Chancellor; Vice-Officialis and Censor Librorum for the St. Joseph Diocese; Censor Librorum and Diocesan Consultor for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. In 2006, Monsignor Blacet was elevated to Protonotary Apostolic.
Monsignor Blacet was chaplain of the Missouri Peace Officers Association for many years and enjoyed a close association with law enforcement officers and Chiefs of Police across the state. Monsignor Blacet’s priesthood was also marked by his desire to hear anyone’s confession. He was known to spend hours in the confessional, both before and after every daily Mass.
Monsignor Blacet’s last and longest assignment began in 1992 as Pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. After a visit in the fall of 1993 to the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Monsignor developed a deep devotion to St. Faustina Kowalska and the Divine Mercy. In 1994 he began Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations that grew over the years to standing room only crowds on the Sunday after Easter. His devotion to Divine Mercy was expressed on April 20, 1999 after the Columbine High School massacre when he decided the next morning to begin praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for our country after every parish Mass, a tradition that continues to this day. His devotion to Divine Mercy led to Bishop Robert Finn’s proclamation to designate Our Lady of Good Counsel Church as the Diocesan Shrine to Divine Mercy and St. Faustina in 2005. Monsignor Blacet was named as the shrine’s founding Rector.
One of the highlights of Monsignor Blacet’s priesthood was a trip to Rome in 1996. The Holy Father Pope John Paul II invited all priests throughout the world who were also ordained in 1946, to the Vatican to celebrate their 50th anniversaries together for three days. Monsignor could not resist the opportunity to attend the events, which culminated in a Thanksgiving Mass with the Pope in St. Peter’s Basilica.
As a young boy, Monsignor Blacet developed a deep and loving devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary that grew stronger throughout his priesthood. Anyone who knew him realized how devoted he was to Mary and her protection. He frequently attributed her intercession to the successful resolution of issues and challenges he faced throughout his life.
Monsignor Blacet was preceded in death by his parents, John E. and Lillian Blacet; a brother and six sisters. He is survived by nieces, nephews, many friends and brother Priests. Monsignor Blacet Ora pro nobis!
Msgr. Blacet attended Cathedral of St. Joseph grade school, (where he was known to have told the sisters that he wanted to be a hobo when he grew up so that he could jump on freight trains and travel everywhere) and graduated from Christian Brothers High School. Not only was he valedictorian of his high school class, but was also on the basketball team, the debate team, and played the clarinet. He graduated from Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis and was ordained for the Diocese of St. Joseph on Dec. 21, 1946. At the 70-year anniversary of his ordination, he recalled his first assignment was assisting at Holy Rosary parish in St. Joseph and, with his pastor, finally got to hitch a ride in a freight car. There had been a death in a family who lived in two abandoned rail cars in a rural area, and Msgr. Rupp invited his new assistant to accompany him to pray for the deceased with the family. The pastor jumped on the train near the back, and the young Father Blacet of course followed suit. After comforting the family and praying over the deceased, the two priests walked the mile or so back to Holy Rosary Parish. Msgr. Blacet recalled thinking, “Thank you, God. This is the priesthood!”
He was reassigned to Cathedral Parish in 1950, where he served for almost a decade before going as pastor to St. James Parish in Liberty in the still new Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Msgr. Blacet was elevated to Papal Chamberlain in 1957 and Domestic Prelate in 1968. He served as pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes-KC, St. Thomas More and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception before being assigned to Our Lady of Good Counsel in 1992.
He received a licentiate in Canon Law in 1950, from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In addition to his parish work, Msgr. Blacet served as Vice-Chancellor; Secretary of the Matrimonial Curia; Defensor Vinculi; Assistant Chancellor; Vice-Officialis and Censor Liborum for the St. Joseph Diocese; Censor Liborum and Diocesan Consultor for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and in 2006 was elevated to Protonotary Apostolic.
OBITUARY IN THE KANSAS CITY STAR SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2020...
Monsignor William J. Blacet, 98, passed away on Father’s Day, June 21, 2020. Vigil schedules may be found at www.goodcounselkc.org. Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held. Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church.
Monsignor Blacet was born the son of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Blacet in St. Joseph, MO. He graduated from Cathedral Elementary and Christian Brothers High School where he was valedictorian of his senior class, St. Joseph, MO, attended Conception Seminary, St. Louis Prep and Kenrick Seminary and then was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Charles LeBlond at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, December 21, 1946. Monsignor Blacet received his J.C.L degree from the Catholic University of Washington, D.C in 1950. He served the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph for over 70 years at, Holy Rosary, St. Joseph, MO, St. James Parish, Liberty, MO, Our Lady of Lourdes, Raytown, St. Thomas More Church, The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Good Counsel, all of Kansas City, MO. In addition to his parish work, Monsignor Blacet served as Vice-Chancellor; Secretary of the Matrimonial Curia; Defensor Vinculi; Assistant Chancellor; Vice-Officialis and Censor Librorum for the St. Joseph Diocese; Censor Librorum and Diocesan Consultor for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. In 2006, Monsignor Blacet was elevated to Protonotary Apostolic.
Monsignor Blacet was chaplain of the Missouri Peace Officers Association for many years and enjoyed a close association with law enforcement officers and Chiefs of Police across the state. Monsignor Blacet’s priesthood was also marked by his desire to hear anyone’s confession. He was known to spend hours in the confessional, both before and after every daily Mass.
Monsignor Blacet’s last and longest assignment began in 1992 as Pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. After a visit in the fall of 1993 to the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Monsignor developed a deep devotion to St. Faustina Kowalska and the Divine Mercy. In 1994 he began Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations that grew over the years to standing room only crowds on the Sunday after Easter. His devotion to Divine Mercy was expressed on April 20, 1999 after the Columbine High School massacre when he decided the next morning to begin praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for our country after every parish Mass, a tradition that continues to this day. His devotion to Divine Mercy led to Bishop Robert Finn’s proclamation to designate Our Lady of Good Counsel Church as the Diocesan Shrine to Divine Mercy and St. Faustina in 2005. Monsignor Blacet was named as the shrine’s founding Rector.
One of the highlights of Monsignor Blacet’s priesthood was a trip to Rome in 1996. The Holy Father Pope John Paul II invited all priests throughout the world who were also ordained in 1946, to the Vatican to celebrate their 50th anniversaries together for three days. Monsignor could not resist the opportunity to attend the events, which culminated in a Thanksgiving Mass with the Pope in St. Peter’s Basilica.
As a young boy, Monsignor Blacet developed a deep and loving devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary that grew stronger throughout his priesthood. Anyone who knew him realized how devoted he was to Mary and her protection. He frequently attributed her intercession to the successful resolution of issues and challenges he faced throughout his life.
Monsignor Blacet was preceded in death by his parents, John E. and Lillian Blacet; a brother and six sisters. He is survived by nieces, nephews, many friends and brother Priests. Monsignor Blacet Ora pro nobis!
REVEREND MONSIGNOR WILLIAM JOSEPH BLACET was the son of Lillian Sabina (nee Streuber) and John E. Blacet and the brother of Catherine, Helen, Lucille (aka Jeanne Marie), John, Margie, and Elizabeth.
Msgr. Blacet attended Cathedral of St. Joseph grade school, (where he was known to have told the sisters that he wanted to be a hobo when he grew up so that he could jump on freight trains and travel everywhere) and graduated from Christian Brothers High School. Not only was he valedictorian of his high school class, but was also on the basketball team, the debate team, and played the clarinet. He graduated from Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis and was ordained for the Diocese of St. Joseph on Dec. 21, 1946. At the 70-year anniversary of his ordination, he recalled his first assignment was assisting at Holy Rosary parish in St. Joseph and, with his pastor, finally got to hitch a ride in a freight car. There had been a death in a family who lived in two abandoned rail cars in a rural area, and Msgr. Rupp invited his new assistant to accompany him to pray for the deceased with the family. The pastor jumped on the train near the back, and the young Father Blacet of course followed suit. After comforting the family and praying over the deceased, the two priests walked the mile or so back to Holy Rosary Parish. Msgr. Blacet recalled thinking, “Thank you, God. This is the priesthood!”
He was reassigned to Cathedral Parish in 1950, where he served for almost a decade before going as pastor to St. James Parish in Liberty in the still new Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Msgr. Blacet was elevated to Papal Chamberlain in 1957 and Domestic Prelate in 1968. He served as pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes-KC, St. Thomas More and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception before being assigned to Our Lady of Good Counsel in 1992.
He received a licentiate in Canon Law in 1950, from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In addition to his parish work, Msgr. Blacet served as Vice-Chancellor; Secretary of the Matrimonial Curia; Defensor Vinculi; Assistant Chancellor; Vice-Officialis and Censor Liborum for the St. Joseph Diocese; Censor Liborum and Diocesan Consultor for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and in 2006 was elevated to Protonotary Apostolic.
OBITUARY IN THE KANSAS CITY STAR SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2020...
Monsignor William J. Blacet, 98, passed away on Father’s Day, June 21, 2020. Vigil schedules may be found at www.goodcounselkc.org. Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held. Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church.
Monsignor Blacet was born the son of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Blacet in St. Joseph, MO. He graduated from Cathedral Elementary and Christian Brothers High School where he was valedictorian of his senior class, St. Joseph, MO, attended Conception Seminary, St. Louis Prep and Kenrick Seminary and then was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Charles LeBlond at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, December 21, 1946. Monsignor Blacet received his J.C.L degree from the Catholic University of Washington, D.C in 1950. He served the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph for over 70 years at, Holy Rosary, St. Joseph, MO, St. James Parish, Liberty, MO, Our Lady of Lourdes, Raytown, St. Thomas More Church, The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Good Counsel, all of Kansas City, MO. In addition to his parish work, Monsignor Blacet served as Vice-Chancellor; Secretary of the Matrimonial Curia; Defensor Vinculi; Assistant Chancellor; Vice-Officialis and Censor Librorum for the St. Joseph Diocese; Censor Librorum and Diocesan Consultor for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. In 2006, Monsignor Blacet was elevated to Protonotary Apostolic.
Monsignor Blacet was chaplain of the Missouri Peace Officers Association for many years and enjoyed a close association with law enforcement officers and Chiefs of Police across the state. Monsignor Blacet’s priesthood was also marked by his desire to hear anyone’s confession. He was known to spend hours in the confessional, both before and after every daily Mass.
Monsignor Blacet’s last and longest assignment began in 1992 as Pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. After a visit in the fall of 1993 to the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Monsignor developed a deep devotion to St. Faustina Kowalska and the Divine Mercy. In 1994 he began Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations that grew over the years to standing room only crowds on the Sunday after Easter. His devotion to Divine Mercy was expressed on April 20, 1999 after the Columbine High School massacre when he decided the next morning to begin praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for our country after every parish Mass, a tradition that continues to this day. His devotion to Divine Mercy led to Bishop Robert Finn’s proclamation to designate Our Lady of Good Counsel Church as the Diocesan Shrine to Divine Mercy and St. Faustina in 2005. Monsignor Blacet was named as the shrine’s founding Rector.
One of the highlights of Monsignor Blacet’s priesthood was a trip to Rome in 1996. The Holy Father Pope John Paul II invited all priests throughout the world who were also ordained in 1946, to the Vatican to celebrate their 50th anniversaries together for three days. Monsignor could not resist the opportunity to attend the events, which culminated in a Thanksgiving Mass with the Pope in St. Peter’s Basilica.
As a young boy, Monsignor Blacet developed a deep and loving devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary that grew stronger throughout his priesthood. Anyone who knew him realized how devoted he was to Mary and her protection. He frequently attributed her intercession to the successful resolution of issues and challenges he faced throughout his life.
Monsignor Blacet was preceded in death by his parents, John E. and Lillian Blacet; a brother and six sisters. He is survived by nieces, nephews, many friends and brother Priests. Monsignor Blacet Ora pro nobis!
Msgr. Blacet attended Cathedral of St. Joseph grade school, (where he was known to have told the sisters that he wanted to be a hobo when he grew up so that he could jump on freight trains and travel everywhere) and graduated from Christian Brothers High School. Not only was he valedictorian of his high school class, but was also on the basketball team, the debate team, and played the clarinet. He graduated from Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis and was ordained for the Diocese of St. Joseph on Dec. 21, 1946. At the 70-year anniversary of his ordination, he recalled his first assignment was assisting at Holy Rosary parish in St. Joseph and, with his pastor, finally got to hitch a ride in a freight car. There had been a death in a family who lived in two abandoned rail cars in a rural area, and Msgr. Rupp invited his new assistant to accompany him to pray for the deceased with the family. The pastor jumped on the train near the back, and the young Father Blacet of course followed suit. After comforting the family and praying over the deceased, the two priests walked the mile or so back to Holy Rosary Parish. Msgr. Blacet recalled thinking, “Thank you, God. This is the priesthood!”
He was reassigned to Cathedral Parish in 1950, where he served for almost a decade before going as pastor to St. James Parish in Liberty in the still new Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Msgr. Blacet was elevated to Papal Chamberlain in 1957 and Domestic Prelate in 1968. He served as pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes-KC, St. Thomas More and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception before being assigned to Our Lady of Good Counsel in 1992.
He received a licentiate in Canon Law in 1950, from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In addition to his parish work, Msgr. Blacet served as Vice-Chancellor; Secretary of the Matrimonial Curia; Defensor Vinculi; Assistant Chancellor; Vice-Officialis and Censor Liborum for the St. Joseph Diocese; Censor Liborum and Diocesan Consultor for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and in 2006 was elevated to Protonotary Apostolic.
OBITUARY IN THE KANSAS CITY STAR SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2020...
Monsignor William J. Blacet, 98, passed away on Father’s Day, June 21, 2020. Vigil schedules may be found at www.goodcounselkc.org. Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held. Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church.
Monsignor Blacet was born the son of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Blacet in St. Joseph, MO. He graduated from Cathedral Elementary and Christian Brothers High School where he was valedictorian of his senior class, St. Joseph, MO, attended Conception Seminary, St. Louis Prep and Kenrick Seminary and then was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Charles LeBlond at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, December 21, 1946. Monsignor Blacet received his J.C.L degree from the Catholic University of Washington, D.C in 1950. He served the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph for over 70 years at, Holy Rosary, St. Joseph, MO, St. James Parish, Liberty, MO, Our Lady of Lourdes, Raytown, St. Thomas More Church, The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Good Counsel, all of Kansas City, MO. In addition to his parish work, Monsignor Blacet served as Vice-Chancellor; Secretary of the Matrimonial Curia; Defensor Vinculi; Assistant Chancellor; Vice-Officialis and Censor Librorum for the St. Joseph Diocese; Censor Librorum and Diocesan Consultor for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. In 2006, Monsignor Blacet was elevated to Protonotary Apostolic.
Monsignor Blacet was chaplain of the Missouri Peace Officers Association for many years and enjoyed a close association with law enforcement officers and Chiefs of Police across the state. Monsignor Blacet’s priesthood was also marked by his desire to hear anyone’s confession. He was known to spend hours in the confessional, both before and after every daily Mass.
Monsignor Blacet’s last and longest assignment began in 1992 as Pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. After a visit in the fall of 1993 to the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Monsignor developed a deep devotion to St. Faustina Kowalska and the Divine Mercy. In 1994 he began Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations that grew over the years to standing room only crowds on the Sunday after Easter. His devotion to Divine Mercy was expressed on April 20, 1999 after the Columbine High School massacre when he decided the next morning to begin praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for our country after every parish Mass, a tradition that continues to this day. His devotion to Divine Mercy led to Bishop Robert Finn’s proclamation to designate Our Lady of Good Counsel Church as the Diocesan Shrine to Divine Mercy and St. Faustina in 2005. Monsignor Blacet was named as the shrine’s founding Rector.
One of the highlights of Monsignor Blacet’s priesthood was a trip to Rome in 1996. The Holy Father Pope John Paul II invited all priests throughout the world who were also ordained in 1946, to the Vatican to celebrate their 50th anniversaries together for three days. Monsignor could not resist the opportunity to attend the events, which culminated in a Thanksgiving Mass with the Pope in St. Peter’s Basilica.
As a young boy, Monsignor Blacet developed a deep and loving devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary that grew stronger throughout his priesthood. Anyone who knew him realized how devoted he was to Mary and her protection. He frequently attributed her intercession to the successful resolution of issues and challenges he faced throughout his life.
Monsignor Blacet was preceded in death by his parents, John E. and Lillian Blacet; a brother and six sisters. He is survived by nieces, nephews, many friends and brother Priests. Monsignor Blacet Ora pro nobis!
