Msgr. SchmidtA funeral Mass for Msgr. Gregory Schmidt was celebrated April 5 at Immaculate Conception Church in Old Monroe. Msgr. Schmidt died March 30 at Mother of Good Counsel Home. He was 88 years old.
Gregory Schmidt was born in St. Louis on March 25, 1936, to Frederick and Amelia (Ebenreck) Schmidt. His father passed away when he was just a year old, and he was raised by his mother, brothers and sisters. Gregory was baptized at St. Luke the Evangelist Church in St. Louis and attended St. Louis Preparatory Seminary, Cardinal Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary. Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter ordained him to the priesthood on March 18, 1961, at the Saint Louis Cathedral.
Msgr. Schmidt served as assistant pastor at St. Ferdinand in Florissant (1961-67) and associate pastor at St. John the Baptist in St. Louis (1967-72), St. Sebastian in Glen Owen (1972-77), St. Paul in Fenton (1977-79), and Epiphany in St. Louis (1979-81). He served as a pastor at several parishes, including Ste. Genevieve in Ste. Genevieve (1981-87) and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Oakville (1987-94).
His longest assignment as pastor was at Immaculate Conception in Old Monroe from 1994 until his retirement in 2011. During that time, he was elevated to the rank of Honorary Prelate and given the title Reverend Monsignor, and he served as dean of the St. Charles Deanery. Msgr. Schmidt also was a longtime spiritual moderator and served on the executive board of the archdiocesan Respect Life Apostolate until 2018.
After his retirement in 2011, he moved to St. Peter Parish in Kirkwood, where he remained active celebrating Masses and with ministries such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, prison ministry retreats, monthly Masses at the veterans’ home in north St. Louis County and pro-life work with the Respect Life Apostolate. He also was a chaplain for the Knights of Columbus council and the 50 Plus Club at St. Peter and was chaplain for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. In 2021, he celebrated his 60th jubilee as a priest and moved to Our Lady of Life Apartments, eventually moving to Mother of Good Counsel in 2024.
Msgr. Schmidt was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Fred J. Schmidt and Eugene Schmidt; and two sisters, Lorraine Baker and Mary Mueller. Survivors include his sister, Joan Aubuchon of St. Louis, 28 nieces and nephews, numerous great- and great-great nieces and nephews and many friends.
Burial was in the parish cemetery at Immaculate Conception in Old Monroe.