Date of death: 06/18/2025
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1969
Father Pat Gaza passed away peacefully on June 18, 2025 at Community Hospital East in Indianapolis, at age 81. Firstborn son of John and Ann Marie Gaza, he had three siblings: Agnes Marie “Mickey” Gaza, Harold James “Jim” (Carol) Gaza, and Jerrold Bruce “Jerry” (Stacy) Gaza.
Father Pat attended SS. Peter & Paul Grade School in Merrillville. After high school and junior college at Our Lady of the Lake Seminary, Wawasee, Indiana, he completed college at Saint Meinrad College, Saint Meinrad, Indiana, with a Degree in French Literature. Bishop Andrew G. Grutka sent Father Pat to the Pontifical North American College in Rome, to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he received the Bachelor in Sacred Theology and Licentiate in Sacred Theology. He was ordained a Catholic priest on December 20, 1968, at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City.
His first assignment in the Diocese of Gary was Instructor of Religion at Bishop Noll Institute, with residence at All Saints Catholic Church, Hammond. During these years, he was Moderator of the Deanery Catholic Youth Organization and a member of the Diocesan CYO Board of Directors.
In 1972, Bishop James A. Hickey, Rector of the North American College, requested that Father Pat be released for a year of study in Pastoral Theology at the University of Notre Dame, in preparation for serving as Director of Apostolic Formation at the North American College in Rome from 1973 to 1978. His duties included helping students integrate theological studies and spiritual formation with ministry in local hospitals, schools, and parishes. He treasured his relationship with the “Spanish Nuns,” Parish Workers of the Istituto Maddalena Aulina.
Returning to the Diocese of Gary in the summer of 1978, Bishop Grutka named Father Pat Diocesan Director of Religious Education, to work with the late Sister Grace Clemens, OSF. He was also named Diocesan Mission Director. With residence at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Gary, he was asked to minister in parishes where the pastor was ill or on vacation, including St. Edward Catholic Church in Lowell and St. Luke Catholic Church in Gary. In July, 1979, Father Pat assisted Monsignor Michael Campagna who was dying and, after his death, was named Director of Hoosier Boys Town, Schererville, continuing with his other diocesan responsibilities. In addition, in the fall of 1980, Father Pat was named Pastor of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Shelby.
In July, 1982, Father Pat asked to be relieved of all these responsibilities and was named Pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Whiting, until August 26, 1982, when he was named Pastor of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Michigan City, Indiana. He enjoyed working with the other pastors in Michigan City and was involved in the community, as member of the Marquette High School Advisory Board, as member of the Michigan City Ministerial Association, as Michigan City Police Chaplain, as Director of the LaPorte County FEMA food program. In August, 1992, Father Pat was named Pastor of SS. Monica & Luke Catholic Church, Gary. In addition to joyful ministry within this very vibrant Catholic faith community dedicated to the works of justice and peace, most rewarding were the ten years, 1997-2007, ministering in the Gary Cluster Parishes, with Father Bob Gehring, Father Tom Mischler, and the late Father John Ambre. He was also grateful for the opportunity to have worked with the Interfaith Clergy Council of Gary and Vicinity (as Secretary most of the time), the NAACP Gary Branch (as Treasurer for ten years), Calumet Project, the Lake County Alliance Against Domestic Violence, the Northwest Indiana Brownfield Redevelopment Project, Rebuilding Together (Christmas in April) Gary, the Gary Urban Enterprise Association, and the Steel City Hall of Fame. In June, 2007, Father Pat was named Pastor of St. Mark Catholic Church, Gary. He retired as Pastor of both of these parishes on July 1, 2013.
After retirement, Father Pat was available to help with Sunday and weekday Mass in various parishes and recently at the Albertine Home. He was asked to celebrate baptisms, quinceañeras, and funerals. He spent a lot of time reading and visiting with family and friends, including friends in Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Australia. In March 2023 Father Pat moved to the Albertine Home in Hammond.
Preceded in death by his parents, John and Ann Marie Gaza, his sister, Agnes Marie “Mickey” Gaza, he is survived by his brothers, Jim (Carol) Gaza and Jerry (Stacy) Gaza, nephews, Jimmy (Amanda) Gaza and Michael (Lisa) Gaza, niece, Amy (David) Mulcahy and loved as a niece, Grace Wedding, many great-nieces and great-nephews, many relatives and friends.
He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. The family would like to especially thank the sisters of the Albertine Home for all of the care and compassion shown to Father Pat during his time there. With gratitude for the opportunity to minister with so many good people, Father Pat requested that any memorials offered at his funeral be given to St. Mary of the Immaculate Church, Michigan City, or SS. Monica & Luke Catholic Church, Gary, Albertine Sisters, Hammond or to the Istituto Maddalena Aulina, Rome.