Bishop Edward Malesic will celebrate a memorial Mass for Father Robert T. Begin, senior priest-retired, at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 13 in St. Colman Church, 2027 W. 65th St., Cleveland. Father Paul Wysocki will be the homilist.
There will be two presentations prior to Mass, beginning at 10 a.m.: The St. Colman Experience by Eileen Kelly and the Commission on Catholic Community Action by Len Calabrese.
Father Begin, 84, died on July 24.
He was born to the late Leroy and Catherine (Wuescher) Begin on May 28, 1938. Father Begin was educated at St. Patrick School in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood, Borromeo High School and Borromeo College, both in Wickliffe, and Saint Mary Seminary in Cleveland.
He was ordained to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 23, 1964 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist by his uncle, Bishop Floyd Begin.
His first assignment after ordination was as parochial vicar at St. Gregory the Great Parish, South Euclid. On Feb. 5, 1971, he was appointed parochial vicar of St. Patrick Parish on Bridge Avenue in Cleveland.
Father Begin was on the staff of the Commission on Catholic Community Action beginning Feb. 2, 1977. He was director of West Side Ecumenical Ministry from July 1, 1985 until July 6, 1993. Father Begin served on the staff of the Office of the Secretary for Social Concerns beginning March 1, 1994.
He served as the sacramental minister at St. Colman Parish in Cleveland beginning Sept. 7, 1994 and was appointed administrator of the parish on Feb. 21, 2007. During this assignment, he also served as administrator of Sagrada Familia Parish in Cleveland, effective May 22, 2009.
Father Begin was named pastor of St. Colman Parish on Nov. 24, 2009, serving until his retirement on Aug. 31, 2014. Those who knew him said he was a champion for the poor and spent his life in the service of those in need.
Father Begin donated his body to science.