Monsignor Robert Humitz, 70, chuckles when someone says he looks too young to retire.
‘Everybody says that, but my bones don’t tell me that,? he said. ‘I may look young, but I don’t feel young some days.?
The man people tend to call ‘Father Bob? will retire as pastor of St. Daniel’s Catholic Church in June, but he will not simply fade away.
Humitz grew up in the Detroit area (except for a brief time in Bay City). He attended Sacred Heart Seminary and St. John Seminary before being ordained to the priesthood in 1960. In addition to several pastorates, he was director of religious education for the Detroit archdiocese for nine years and was a pioneer in local cable television access for Roman Catholic churches.
That work was especially rewarding, as he had developed an interest in ‘visual communication.? His expertise was recognized when then-county executive Daniel Murphy tapped Humitz to head up a county task force for local access cable.
‘He didn’t want all these communities to reinvent the wheel,? he said.
When Adam Cardinal Maida became bishop of Detroit, Humitz was asked to return to the pastorate because of the growing shortage of priests. In February 1991, he came to St. Daniel’s.
Since then, the parish family has grown from 1,200 families to 2,100. Because priests have continued to be in short supply, part of his ministry has been to recruit and train laypeople in the church to handle more duties, thus allowing the priest to handle the more sacramental functions.
‘There are so many things that were considered to be what the priest had to do and he doesn’t really have to do all that,? he said.
The church has accomplished some good things in recent years, including spearheading efforts which led to what is now known as the Clarkston Coalition For Youth.
Humitz said that was in response to a report concerning drug and alcohol among young people, including those in Clarkston.
‘I brought that to the church and said, ‘What should we do about this??? The church elected to start a task force, and now many in the community have joined the effort to promote ‘developmental assets? among local youth.
Humitz has enjoyed being part of the local ministerial association, and enjoys the spirit of interaction in the Clarkston area.
‘It still has that smalltown village feel to it, where people get to know each other, particularly through the involvement in church and schools.?
Humitz had a special opportunity for ministry in 2002, becoming a chaplain for the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. An avid skiier, he had made regular trips to the area and was friends with the mayor. While he had to qualify for the chaplain’s corps, he said it was worth all the effort.
‘It was a wonderful experience of working together with chaplains of different faiths in a context of different cultures,? he said. ‘It was like a mini-world coming together.?
His office displays many pieces of memorabilia from the Olympics, and he compiled many of his photos and experiences into a book, ‘Reliving the Glory.?
He still enjoys skiing, but again cites age as a reality in his experience.
‘I used to ski the black, but now I’m back to the blue,? he said, noting that health concerns also have him involved in bicycling. Other hobbies include woodworking and building.
‘As long as I can keep doing those things, it’s healthy for me.?
An active congregation and a good parish staff (nine full-time and 14 total) have helped Humitz feel like his ministry has been both effective and enjoyable.
‘The community involvement in the parish, the way people have responded, the celebrations of our liturgy are so beautiful,? he said. ‘The staff has worked together as a good pastoral team, and that’s how it has to work when you only have one priest.?
Retirement will not mean the end of ministry. The cardinal has asked Humitz to keep active in pastoral planning, for example.
‘I’ll help out wherever they need help, but I’ll be able to pace it out,? he said.
There are some concerns for the future of St. Daniel’s, especially as the community continues to grow. The current church campus has little room for additional building. There are discussions concerning the establishment of a new parish in Davisburg, but that will depend both on availability of priests and the willingness of laypeople to work.
Therefore, Humitz hopes the parishioners will continue their dedication.
‘If they just continue in the same spirit that they’re already involved in,? they will do fine, he said. While a lot will depend on the new priest (to be chosen sometime in March or April), Humitz said, ‘The groundwork is all there.?.