Reverend Monsignor James Patrick Robinson

Monsignor James Patrick Robinson, SSE, passed on from this life on January 9, 2015 at the age of 83.

Monsignor Robinson was born on May 17, 1931 and ordained a priest and member of the religious order, the Society of St. Edmund, on May 30, 1957.

His first assignment in 1964 was in the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina as Assistant Missionary Apostolate. In 1967, he became a founding member of the National Black Clergy Caucus.

His other assignments included Superior of the Edmundite Seminary in Burlington, Vermont from 1969-1971, and Assistant Director of the Edmundite Mission in Selma, Alabama from 1971-1976. In 1976, he was called to the Archdiocese of Detroit, where his assignments included St. Catherine/St. Edward Parish, Detroit; St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Detroit; and St. John Berchman/St. Juliana Parish, Detroit. Monsignor Robinson was named Rector of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in 1983. He was named Rector Emeritus in 2003, and continued to serve in the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament up until his last days.

Visitation will take place on Friday, January 16 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 9844 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, beginning at 12 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. Monsignor Robinson will lie in repose on Saturday, January 17 from 10 a.m. until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at a later date in Selma, Alabama with the Society of St. Edmund religious community.

Monsignor Robinson is survived by his sisters, Bennie Ragland and Gloria Middleton and many nieces and nephews.