Born: October 24, 1941 - Deceased: January 25, 2022
Monsignor James Margason
Msgr. James Edward Margason, 80, of Shiloh, IL, born Friday, October 24, 1941, in East St. Louis, IL, passed away Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at his residence in Shiloh, IL.
He attended Assumption High School in East St. Louis. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St.Louis University. He worked as a social worker with the Missouri Division of Employment Security and the Illinois Department of Public Aid. He began his seminary studies at St. Henry Seminary in Belleville and completed them at Kenrick Seminary and St. Louis University School of Divinity in St. Louis where he earned a Masters of Divinity Degree. He was ordained by Bishop Albert Zuroweste to the priesthood on June 5, 1971.
He served as the associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Belleville before being assigned in 1975 to Angelicum University in Rome where he earned a license in Canon Law in 1977. He worked in the diocesan Marriage Tribunal and was named diocesan Family Life director. Bishop John Wurm named him the Vicar General of the Diocese and Moderator of the Curia in 1983.
During Bishop Wurm’s illness he was named the apostolic administrator of the diocese and the administrator of the diocese after Wurm’s death. He served as the administrator of the diocese on two other occasions after the transfers of Bishop James Keleher and Bishop Wilton Gregory.
Msgr. Margason served as the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for Bishop Keleher and Bishop Gregory from 1984 to 2005, except for four years after 1990 when he resigned from his diocesan offices to devote his full time to pastoral responsibilities. For 20 years, he served as adjunct professor of Canon Law at Aquinas Institute of Theology at St. Louis University. He was named a monsignor in 2000.
Msgr. Margason served as the pastor of St. James in Millstadt, St. Luke in Belleville, and as short-term administrator of Blessed Sacrament in Belleville, Holy Rosary in Fairmont City, St. Mary in Valmeyer, Immaculate Conception in Madonnaville, and St. Mary in Belleville, St. Stephen in Caseyville, and canonical pastor of St. Joseph in Lebanon. In his final ministry he served as Pastor of Corpus Christi in Shiloh & St. Joseph in Lebanon.
Jim loved to golf, travel and cook, and relished thoughtful conversation over a glass of wine. His greatest love was his final ministry to his parishes in Shiloh and Lebanon, and they in turn showered him with love and support. Even in his struggles with health they kept him in good mind and spirit towards the end.
He was preceded in death by his:
- Parents, Charles E. and Mary Rose Margason
- Brothers:
- Thomas (Paula) Margason
- Jerry Margason
- Nephew, Shawn Margason
Surviving are his:
- Sister, Pat (Jim) Mottershead of Collinsville, IL
- Niece, Peggy Butler of Collinsville, IL
- Nephews:
- Michael Mottershead of Tucson, AZ
- Tom Margason of Carbondale, IL
- Great-nieces and nephew, Kendell Butler, Liza Butler and Dylan Margason
- Dear cousins
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Corpus Christi Church in Shiloh, IL or St. Joseph Church in Lebanon, IL.
Visitation: Visitation from 4:00- 8:00 pm Friday, January 28, 2022 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Shiloh, IL with a prayer service at the beginning and from 8:00 -10:00 am on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at Corpus Christi Church in Shiloh, IL.
Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, January 29, 2022 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Shiloh, IL, with Wilton Cardinal Gregory and Bishop Michael G. McGovern officiating Interment at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Belleville, IL.
A live stream can be accessed at:
Prayer Service 4:00pm January 28, 2022: https://youtu.be/d2a2Y_qDHRg
Funeral Mass 10:00am January 29, 2022: https://youtu.be/hTW995Vq650
15 Comments
Work for Fr. Jim for many years. He was so caring. I appreciated him for his love of scripture and his dedication to the church.
A true treasure. He will be missed!
Out heartfelt condolences to Father’s family. A great loss to Corpus Christi & St. Joseph Parishes & the Belleville Diocese.
Fr. Jim is a beautiful example of a caring Priest/Shepard of The Flock of Christ. He officiated at our wedding at Corpus Christi.
We will miss his insightful sermons and it was always so precious to see him with the children and to hear his words of guidance to all. 😇
He will be missed.
Eternal Rest grant unto him, O Lord! 🙏
Sincerely,
Bill and Patty (Lisch) Weier
It was a wonderful relationship…Fr Jim & Corpus Christi and St. Joseph parishes. He was our spiritual mentor and friend. The love we had for him was mutual. I will miss him, but will take the many lessons he taught about living and even dying with me forever. May he rest in peace.
I was the 2ndGrade PSR teacher at St. Luke when he was there and was wonder to work with. I loved his sermons. He taught us how to be independent at St. Luke before he left. For Monsignors family you are in are prays. Stephen and Sharon
Please accept my heartfelt condolences to the Margason family, his dear friends, and my fellow parishioners. I will miss Fr Jim’s always insightful and relevant homilies.
When Monsignor was at St. Luke I was the 2nd Grade teacher. I had to work with him very closely. I loved it. I also loved his sermons. we chose times to go listen to him. the one think i will remember is when he baptized our granddaughter during mass he made it so special and stayed for picture. To Jim’s family our prayers are with you Sharon and Stephen
I KNEW FR. MARGASON WHEN I MINISTERED AT IMMACULATE CONCEPTION IN CENTERVILLE WHERE HIS FAMILY WAS LIVING AT THAT TIME. CONTACT WITH HIM REMAINED OVER THE YEARS. I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH ALL THE COMMENT THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED. I GIVE MY SYMPATHY TO ALL HIS FAMILY AND ESPECIALLY TO THE PARISHONERS WHOM HE MINISTERED TO WITH SUCH CARE. SYMPATHY ALSO TO HIS DEAR FRIEND. FR. HITPAS, A FRIEND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
We knew Fr. Jim when he was at St. Clare in O’Fallon many years ago. We worked on a few Pre Cana days with him. We always enjoyed the way he did something special for the kids on Christmas Eve. I also went to high school with his sister in law, Paula. We attended a service in 2016 at Corpus Christi when he performed 3 sacrements on one young lady in the same service. He said that was the first time he did that, We always enjoyed talking with him. He was a great support to us when our son had brain surgery, then concelebrating his funeral a few years later. Our prayers to his family and his family at Corpus Christi and St. Joseph.
Such a good man, both competent and kind. He served faithfully in administration and pastoral care. I wish peace for all who mourn him there. I share in your grief, but also in hope for his life now in the Lord, whom he served so well.
Sorry to read this about Fr. Jim. He was one of the new breed and it is hard to realize that he is 80. We always enjoyed the times we went to Corpus Christi. A loss for the entire community
Jim gave his all to our Catholic Church. He was a very dedicated priest and special classmate of mine. He has certainly found his reward.
Father Jim is a light in so many lives that will truly be missed. He was a great support to me in high school as our CYO director when he first became a priest and was assigned to Blessed Sacrament. He came back to Blessed Sacrament during trying times and was such a support and friend to me as principal. He was a great friend to my family and me all of my life. His dedication to our Diocese is truly remarkable and inspiring.
When I think of my cousin, Father Jim Margason, the word “service” come to the forefront. Even growing up as children Jim the oldest of our father’s children was always first to help, the model of how we younger children were to to behave. His entire life seemed to portray the servant heart that our Savior spoke about so often.
Cousin Roger Margason
We began attending Fr. Jim’s masses at St. Luke’s about 20 years ago and followed him to Corpus Christi in Shiloh when he was assigned there. We especially enjoyed his thoughtful and informative homilies. He will be deeply missed at both Corpus Christi and St. Joseph’s parishes.
I never met Fr. Jim, but I would attend Mass at St. Luke,’s when he was there. His sermons were wonderful. I always learned something from his sermons. I taught PSR at the time and I would tell the children about what I learned from his sermon the week before.