Fr. Bill

Fr. William (Bill) Lugger, at the age of 71, died on January 26, 2024 as a result of complications from a very rare autoimmune disease called Goodpasture Syndrome. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 9, 1952. Raised in the city of Flint. He attended Selby, Holmes and Flint Northwestern High School graduating in 1970. Moved to Flushing in 1973 and joined St. Robert Catholic Church. He worked BINGO, was a lector, a religious Ed Teacher, and joined the choir. It was through all of these relationships and the friendship of two newly ordained priests who came to the parish as their first assignment that the call to the priesthood came to him. A student said to him, "Mr. Lugger, you should be a priest". "I prayed and prayed to listen of God's voice. I returned to school and graduated from St. Thomas University in 1984 with a degree in education and liturgy. I attended St. John Provincial Seminary and Sacred Heart Seminary. I was ordained a deacon on December 8, 1988 by Edmund Cardinal Szoka. I was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lansing on June 10th 1989 by Bishop Kenneth Povish." Fr. Bill's first assignment was Associate Pastor at St. Casimir Parish in Lansing from 1989 to 1991. Served as pastor of St. Michael Parish in Flint from 1991 to 1997. He then moved back to St. Casimir Parish and served as Pastor from 1997 until his retirement in 2019. Served as president of the Liturgical Commission for 11 years. Upon his retirement he moved into a small house next to St. Casimir Church with his dog Hezekiah (Hezzie). One year of relatively good health when he was struck down by that horrible disease. After one month in the hospital, he moved into St. Mary Cathedral Parish where he was welcomed and loved by the people of the parish.
Fr. Lugger is preceded in death by Kathleen Anne Heric, J. Kelly Lugger, and Raymond C. Allen (stepfather). He is survived by my three sisters, Barbara Heric, Mary Elizabeth Behme and Patricia Anne Lugger, two step-sisters Carol (Bill) Yakovich and Susan Allen, two nephews Stephen and Brandon, two nieces Stephanie, Shannon and one great nephew Aiden, Aunt Dora Mae Heric, terrific cousins of the Thomas, Kellerman, Heric, Henige, Allen and Lugger families along with countless friends.
Evening prayer will be celebrated at St. Mary Cathedral on Sunday, January 28, at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will also be celebrated at the Cathedral on Monday, January 29, at 11:00 a.m. Burial at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lansing. In lieu of flowers you make donations to St. Mary Cathedral Parish, Mother Theresa House, Cristo Rey Center or Sparrow Hospice at St. Lawrence Campus.