Ran wrote on Mar 18, 2008 12:36 AM:Fr. Mike was one of the good guys. He gave us a shining example of what a priest should be. If the church only had 5,000 more like him, it would much better off.

Linda wrote on Mar 18, 2008 8:00 AM:A wonderful, kind, gentle man who will be greatly missed. Heaven is a better place now with his presence.

Carl wrote on Mar 18, 2008 10:12 AM:May God hold him in peace. He was a wonderful man.

Kim wrote on Mar 18, 2008 11:11 AM:Fr Michel served God by serving people with a smile, a laugh and an enormous heart filled with love. The world was a better place for his presence and he will be missed more than he could ever have imagined. We loved him.

Gary wrote on Mar 18, 2008 1:31 PM:As a member of the St. Mary's (Phoenix) HS class of '67....we enjoyed his company during our 40th Anniversay celebration last October. He was an important part of our youth!

We are dedicated to the completion of his Committal Chapel on the grounds of the Mission. All interested should contact us at ... .

We will all miss you, Fr. Michel!

GS

Gary wrote on Mar 18, 2008 1:36 PM:We were fortunate to have visited with Fr. Michel at the 40th reunion of St, Mary's High School in Phoenix, Arizona,

Our family was just getting to know him well....before his passing. We will miss the opportunity to spend more time with him. What little time we spent was precious to us all.

He want to continue his dream of instaling a Committal Chapel on the grounds of the Mission. Contact them for details.

Contact the Mission regarding his Committal Chapel project.

Gary wrote on Mar 18, 2008 1:40 PM:Please contact the Mission for information on contributing toward the completion of Fr. Michel's Committal Chapel on the cemetary grounds of Mission San Luis Rey. This ws one of his life's late endeavors.

Continue his legacy! Please help!

Mary wrote on Mar 18, 2008 2:24 PM:A wonderful caring priest, and a very special friend. I will miss him so much. I am not Catholic but have continued to stay in touch with him for over 32 years. I moved to Florida almost 4 years ago, but our friendship did not cease. He spent the 4th of July with me and my family in Tahoe. I have given twice to the Chapel and totally agree. Any remembrance should be to the beautiful Chapel he was building. Rest in Peace my dear friend.

Norma wrote on Mar 18, 2008 3:02 PM:My husband & I were grateful to have father Michel marry us, even though he had just retired. Our friends and family still to this day tell us how much they enjoyed our wedding...all thanks to Father Michel's service. He was a great priest, I'll never forget his service after 9/11 and how he was so calming and preached peace & tolerance. He was a priest ahead of his time. He will be missed.

Dora wrote on Mar 18, 2008 4:08 PM:Fr. Michel will be greatly missed for his loving support and kindness to all of us. All of my kids were baptized by him, presided over their 1st communion ceremonies, my marriage was conducted by him as well. My family has been blessed to be have had a great priest conduct many of our ceremonies through the years. Heaven has another angel to look over us.

Alex wrote on Mar 18, 2008 4:41 PM:I spent Sunday afternoon visiting Fr. Michel he was in good spirits and was anticipating a busy schedule when he would be released. Ironically, he related the journey Jesus took the week of Easter to his great great niece. He felt is was important to know the sacrafice Jesus made.

Therese wrote on Mar 18, 2008 8:46 PM:I know him as Uncle Jack. Fr Michel was my uncle and I cannot express the loss myself, and the rest of his family feels. Our one comfort is knowing that after sufferring a stroke this is one way he would not like to live, that of the way his mother did. So God did spare him this sufferring. All of this is still sinking in, we know he is now looking down upon us and will always be with us in spirit. His spirit will live on in the lives of so very many. We Love You Uncle Jack.

Lee wrote on Mar 18, 2008 9:15 PM:What a great man.Fr Michel was so full of love and compassion. His life was all about serving others- and what a job he did!. He was such a true friend. He loved his family and was so proud of them all. He loved being Uncle Jack. He would go on an on about his family. My family will never foget this man and the way he touched us all. God love!!!!

Linda wrote on Mar 19, 2008 9:16 AM:The world and the Church has truly lost a loving,caring and devoted man. He brought joy to so many children especially at Christmas with his including of "Santa" at the children's Christmas mass. I will always be indebted to him for always having an open door policy! You could talk to him about anything at anytime. I have had the honor of assisting him at many of his weddings and witnessed first hand how much he loved being part of a new couple beginning their life together. He will ALWAYS be remembered and held in the highest respect. May he find peace in Heaven!

Alma wrote on Mar 19, 2008 9:20 AM:Fr. Michel is the main reason why I came back to the church after 20 years of being away. He was always willing to think "outside the box." I will always treasure the love he gave to all the children of Old Mission Montessori School and hope that someday his vision of having a Catholic High school in our part of the county will come to fruition. Fr. Michel, you are loved and your presence missed. God bless you.

Lettie wrote on Mar 19, 2008 9:31 AM:I remember Father from St Mary's High School in Phoenix in the 60's..he was wondersful then too!!

Susan A. wrote on Mar 19, 2008 10:27 AM:Father Michele was both my friend and spiritual guide in his time here in Oceanside. Whether performing communion, a marriage ceremony, or just sitting down to a good meal with good friends, his light always seemed to shine and his smile never seemed to fade. I will miss my old friend and Rotary colleague. There must certainly be more fun in Heaven now that he is home.

Jeff M wrote on Mar 19, 2008 12:36 PM:There are times when words fail, and this is one. Goodbye to a great man.

Ray wrote on Mar 19, 2008 4:50 PM:Took me on a trip of the missions back in 1967--wonderful time--good people die, but the world does'nt stop to take notice. But Michel touched many with his/Jesus love and that will live on.

Maria wrote on Mar 20, 2008 7:12 AM:He was amazing! He was a blessing to our family. He truly touched our lives with his kindness. He was always so joyful and a true servant of God! We will miss him dearly.

Suzie wrote on Mar 20, 2008 9:08 AM:Fr. Michel to me is Uncle Jack. He was a funny, caring man and always the priest. In the hospital he kept saying he wanted to go home and get back to his ministry...the people, his people.
His love was great as is our loss. I thank all of his friends for their love for him and their compassion at this time.

Stevo wrote on Mar 20, 2008 11:46 AM:If ever there was a Franciscan, it was Fr. Michel. He lived every hour of his life bringing joy to those who were sad, hope to those who despair, light to those in darkness. Anyone who truly cherishes and misses him -- in other words, anyone who ever met or encountered him, however briefly -- can honor his memory by continuing that effort in their own lives. THANK YOU, Fr. Michel, for saying our wedding Mass, for truly preparing us for our marriage, and for giving of yourself always. We will miss you terribly, but we know you'll help turn our sadness to joy. God Love!!

heather wrote on Mar 20, 2008 12:56 PM:Fr. Michel was a great man. He was one whom the parish community revered. He has been in my family's life from the beginning. My parents were fortunate enough to be wed by him and I was fortunate enough to be baptized him. When the time came for my first communion I couldn't think of anybody but Fr Michel to be the presider. I will always treasure the necklace with a cross on it that he gave me that day. He performed a wonderful service for both of my grandparents when they passed on. He will sorely be missed not only by me and my family, but by everybody's lives that he has had the chance to encounter. He is in Heaven now in peace watching down on us as he always will. May he always live on in spirit. God bless.

Diane wrote on Mar 20, 2008 2:52 PM:A life time of knowing this Wonderful Caring Man is not enough. I am forever blessed to have had Fr. Michel in my life. To his family......Thank you for sharing him with all of us. And as I use to say to Michel.....All of this and Heaven Too!!!!!

Gary wrote on Mar 20, 2008 5:51 PM:As my uncle, Fr. Michel provided an insight into religion and faith and the application to daily life that has sustained me throughout my entire adult life.

Pauline wrote on Mar 21, 2008 8:49 AM:I am a parishioner at St. Mary, Star of the Sea in Oceanside & Fr. Michel used to have mass sometimes & I just loved to listen to him talk. One of the most interesting people I have ever listened to. Sun. 3-9 I was at the hospital and gave Fr. Michel communion & I believe I will never forget that experience.

Adriana and Ken wrote on Mar 22, 2008 6:08 PM:Fr. Michel baptised our daughter when other priests wouldn't do it because of some church rules - he believed in doing the right thing for people and the only authority he feared was God. He'll be sitting with God now.

Michael wrote on Mar 22, 2008 6:16 PM:Father Michel was everything a priest should be: compassionate, centered, loving and full of faith. He married my wife and I, and baptized both of our children. His friendship was genuine, and his shining example of love and caring for all around made him a living saint in so many ways. He made us all proud, and we are honored to have walked with Father Michel on his journey. May he Rest in Peace and may we always live with his memory.

Tim wrote on Mar 22, 2008 6:43 PM:I met Fr. Michel in 1959. He was the moderator of our Young Peoples Club. He married Judy and I 39 year ago today. We have followed his Religious career all these years and met with him several times along the way. We will miss the letters and visits. He was a part of our lives
Tim & Judy

Ann wrote on Mar 22, 2008 9:37 PM:Over the past 16 years, he has been there for us, he was never too busy. We asked.....he came. He shared our sorrows as well as our celebrations, and just plain fun times. "miss me, but let me go" I can hear him say. I'll always miss him.

Steve wrote on Mar 23, 2008 9:56 PM:Grew up going to Newman Center in Sacramento, CA where Fr. Michel was for a time. Great influence on me & my family. Many fond memories of this wonderful man and priest. Amazing the amount of lives he touched, enriched, enlightened- and that continues on...
thank you & love you, Fr. Michel~!

Perpetua wrote on Mar 24, 2008 12:28 AM:May His Soul rest in peace,He is praying for us. I am Confused if I heard it well in Mass,Is it Fr Joseph Bill.please confirm.Kenya.

John wrote on Mar 24, 2008 2:00 PM:I lived with Fr Michel in a Franciscan Formation House in Sacramento in the early '70s.I will always remember his loving and caring nature, great sense of humor, and dedication to serving others. As Newman Center Director,he touched many lives and was responsible for building an active, vibrant, and relevant spiritual community. Thank you God for the gift of Fr.Michel.

Mike wrote on Mar 24, 2008 5:34 PM:Fr. Michel was my teacher at St. Mary's 47 years ago and remained my friend (and teacher) all of these years. He never ignored my calls-he always returned them. He always had time to listen and didn't hesitate to pour out his fears and frustrations to me. Wouldn't that make anyone feel so good? He will be missed more than words can described.
Father-pray to the Lord for more of us to be more like you.
I'm glad you were here.

Patti wrote on Mar 25, 2008 1:24 AM:Fr. Michel was an amazing man. He truly lived his Franciscan faith and shared his passion for Jesus with anyone who would listen. He brought so many people to the Lord and changed so many lives doing so. He did think "outside the box" and that is what made him so important in our lives and so special. His understanding of the Christian faith was second to none and his knowledge of the Lord's teachings and the Bible were truly impressive.

We loved all the changes he made at San Luis Rey Parish. It is a much better place to fellowship because of his influence. All the changes he made were in hopes of turning one more person's eyes toward the Lord. He wanted to show one more person how loving and accepting the Catholic church could be.

You left way to early for all of us, but I know you will be an incredible Guardian Angel to all of us.

Hey Father Michel......maybe now you will finally get to be Mickey Rooney's understudy. I know you would love that!

Thanks to your family for sharing their Uncle Jack. We are all better Christians for having known him.