In accordance with his wishes, a private funeral Mass and burial will take place for Father Robert J. Kropac.
A memorial Mass will be scheduled at each of the two parishes he was responsible for: St. Wendelin and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, both in Cleveland. The dates and times will be announced later.
Father Kropac, 70, died on July 5.
He was born on July 18, 1955 to the late Richard and Carol Ann (Fitzgerald) Kropac.
Father Kropac was educated at St. Mary School, Painesville; Borromeo High School and Borromeo College, Wickliffe; and the Pontifical American College in Rome, Italy.
On May 16, 1982, in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland, Bishop James Griffin ordained him to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland.
Father Kropac’s first assignment after ordination was as parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish, Bedford. During this assignment, he also served as master of ceremonies for Bishop James Lyke. On June 28, 1984, he was transferred to serve as a pastoral member of St. Mary Magdalene Parish, Willowick. During this assignment, he served as a member of the Diocesan Music Commission and as liaison between the Diocesan Pastoral Liturgy Commission and the Diocesan Liturgy Office staff 1989-1990. He was appointed to serve a five-year term as director of the Diocesan Worship Commission on July 1, 1986. Father Kropac served as director of the diocesan Office for Pastoral Liturgy 1990-1995
On June 1, 1995, he was appointed pastor of St. Henry Parish, Cleveland.
He was transferred to serve as parochial vicar of St. Gabriel Parish, Concord, on Jan 1, 2008.
Father Kropac was appointed pastor of St. Wendelin Parish, Cleveland on July 16, 2012. In addition, he served as pastor of St. Peter Parish, Cleveland from July 30, 2012 to Oct. 13, 2019. He was appointed administrator of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Cleveland Feb. 20, 2023.
Those who knew him said Father Kropac devoted his priestly life and service to improving the liturgical experience for those entrusted to his care, helping them deepen their love of the Lord and service to the Church. They also said he had a great love for art and saw how art and beauty could deepen one awareness of God’s creative presence in the world. They said he would be missed greatly.
