- Funeral Arrangements…
Fr. Richard Cortese’s funeral will take place on Tuesday, September 20, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 3863 Summer Ave., Memphis. Visitation will occur from 9:15am-10:00am, the Holy Rosary at 10:00am and the Funeral Mass at 10:30am with Bishop David P. Talley as Celebrant and Msgr. Victor Ciaramitaro as Homilist. The Burial will be at our Historic Calvary Catholic Cemetery on a family plot.
The Mass will be live-streamed. The following link is the live-stream connection to the Mass: https://events.locallive.tv/events/89912. The link will be available to view the Mass after it takes place, too.
Along with the Funeral Arrangements for Fr. Richard A. Cortese at St. Michael Catholic Church, our St. Mary Catholic Church in Jackson will celebrate a bi-lingual Memorial Mass for Fr. Cortese on Thursday, September 22, at 6:00pm. The Mass will be live-streamed on the St. Mary Church – Jackson YouTube Channel and posted to the St. Mary Church-Jackson Facebook page.
Please keep Fr. Cortese’s family and friends in our prayers along with the priests and parishioners of St. Mary Catholic Church-Jackson, St. John Catholic Church-Brownsville and Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission-Bells. Fr. Cortese was a very beloved priest of our Catholic Diocese of Memphis and he will be missed. May perpetual light shine gently upon Fr. Cortese and may his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in Peace. Amen.
- Obituary…
Father Richard Anthony Cortese was called to his eternal home September 11, 2022, at the age of 66. He was born January 27, 1956, in Memphis. He was preceded in death by his parents Anna Lee Slagle and Anthony James Cortese. He leaves his brothers Angelo “Ted” Cortese (Kellie Griffith Cortese) of Memphis, William James Cortese (Kathy Keller Cortese) of Knoxville, and Michael Wesley Cortese of Knoxville, and nieces and nephews and two great nephews. Father Richard attended St. Michael’s and Blessed Sacrament grade schools. He graduated from White Station High School Class of ‘75 where he was a star varsity baseball pitcher and cross country runner. He loved table tennis as well and won all the neighborhood matches. He studied Theology at St. Meinrad Catholic Seminary in St. Meinrad, Ind. Father Richard was a humble priest of 42 years. He revered Mother Mary and dedicated his priestly life to the Marian Movement. He influenced an amazing amount of people of all faiths to Christian spirituality. He was the National Director of the Marian Movement of Priests organization. Father Richard was currently an Associate Pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Jackson. Father Richard loved the outdoors, nature and adventure. In the footsteps of his father he hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail. He climbed Mt. Vesuvius, ate pizza on top of the leaning tower of Pisa, and went down the Mississippi River from Memphis to New Orleans in a small ski boat called The 4 Sons with his beloved brothers. He often said Mass on a sand bar or in the woods. Other stories we could tell will wait for private gatherings. Father was known for long winded sermons…but he was dearly loved by all his parishioners and those that knew and loved him. He was devoted to his Hispanic congregation and friends. He will be missed by everyone that was lucky enough to know our beloved brother. Memorial donations may be made to the Catholic Diocese of Memphis or the Marian Movement of Priests, P.O. Box 8, St. Francis, Maine 04774 or the charity of the donor’s choice. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Cortese family may be shared at: DignityMemorialFrRichardCortese.
