The Rev. James Michael Willig, pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Reading, died Sunday, two years after being diagnosed with renal cancer.

ENQUIRER PROFILE

His greatest sermon From April 15, 2001

        Father Willig, 50, recently published a book, Lessons from the School of Suffering: A Young Priest With Cancer Teaches Us How to Live, on how he coped with his illness.

        He died at his parents' home in Covedale, in the presence of family members.

        “Father Willig was a dedicated priest who served people well in his ministry of word, worship and work,” said Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk. “He served his people well also in the example of patience and faithfulness he provided in his long illness and untimely death. I believe that, although his ministry in this life ended, he will continue to be an instrument of God's love for His people.”

SERVICES

• Reception of the Body is 2 p.m. Friday at SS Peter & Paul Church, 417 Vine St., Reading.   • Vigil prayer services: 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m, followed by an all-night vigil from 11 p.m. Friday until 6:30 a.m. Saturday.   • A Saturday morning vigil begins at 9:30 a.m. at the church. After that, there will be a procession to St. Peter in Chains Cathedral downtown.   • Funeral at 11 a.m. at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral downtown.   • Burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Montgomery.

MEMORIALS

The SS Peter & Paul Father Jim Willig Fund, 417 W. Vine St., Reading 45215; or The Father Jim Willig Seminary Burse Memorial, Athenaeum of Ohio, 6616 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati 45230.

        The priest's brother, John Willig of Bridgetown, said: “Father Jim was an inspiration to so many people. He was always so enthusiastic with his preaching style.”

        In January 2000, Archbishop Pilarczyk asked the people of Cincinnati to pray for Father Willig's healing through the intercession of Bishop Frederic Baraga, a 19th century priest who came to Cincinnati.

        “God did not grant us a miracle through the intercession of Bishop Frederic Baraga,” the Archbishop noted. “This is not a sign of God's indifference to us, but a reminder that He works in ways that surpass our understanding.”

        Father Willig, a native of Cincinnati's west side, studied at St. Gregory and Mount St. Mary seminaries, where he earned a B.A. in philosophy and M.A. in Sacred Scripture. He was ordained on June 11, 1977 by Archbishop Joseph Bernardin.

        Father Willig served as associate pastor of Cincinnati parishes, including St. Agnes in Bond Hill; St. Joseph, West End; St. Clare, College Hill; the former St. George in Clifton; and St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, downtown.

Cancer claims popular priest
Pick a color for Suspension Bridge
Racial profiling mediator seeks citizens input
Key players in discrimination lawsuit
Race task force adds members
Commission offers plan to ease ire over police
Candy tossing seen as parade danger
Free art events bring in visitors
Police say hit-skip was attempted murder
Corryville shooting sends one to hospital
Delhi couple's car stolen at gunpoint
Smaller, revamped schools on the way
Vintage 'base ball' season under way
Junior high rebuilt after fire
Local Digest
Miami Twp. breaking ground
Sculptor turns trash into treasure
Woman dies in shooting
You Asked For It
Billy Graham service sets stadium record
Congrats
Fairgrounds look for revenue in off-season events
Indiana expenditures illegal, report says
Indians fans' have mixed reaction to Rocker
Trial may resolve '98 dorm fire