SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Fr. Thomas Sutherland spent 65 years and eight months of his life as a priest.
That's 34,512,480 minutes — each of which was deeply appreciated by those who came to know the steadfast, hardworking priest, who passed away Aug. 17 at the age of 91.
Msgr. John Kasza, who celebrated Fr. Sutherland's funeral Mass on Aug. 25 at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Shelby Township, where Fr. Sutherland spent 14 years as the founding pastor, remembered Fr. Sutherland as the "people's priest," modeled after the example of the Good Shepherd.
“A pastor smells of the sheep, as Pope Francis was fond of saying, in order that they may know him and trust him,” Msgr. Kasza said. “Fr. Tom certainly was one with the people. He was present during celebrations and tragedies. He walked with his people, whether in Detroit, Sterling Heights or Shelby Township. He tried to live the Beatitudes and taught them by example.”
Fr. Sutherland was born on June 12, 1935, in Detroit, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on Dec. 18, 1960, beginning a ministry that touched countless lives.
Over his long ministry, Fr. Sutherland served as pastor of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Shelby Township (1991-2005), Most Holy Trinity Parish in Detroit (1989-91), St. Matthias Parish in Sterling Heights (1981-89), and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Detroit (1972-81); as administrator of St. Lawrence Parish in Utica (2014), St. Sylvester Parish in Warren (2011-18), St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Shelby Township (2010-11), St. Dunstan Parish in Garden City (2007-08), and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Detroit (1970-72); and as parochial vicar of St. Christopher Parish in Detroit (1965-70), and Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn (1961-65).
Fr. Sutherland was instrumental in the founding of Austin Catholic High School in Chesterfield Township, sat on its board of directors for many years, and was an active member of the Knights of Columbus' fourth degree, serving as chaplain for several councils.
He also served as vicar for the former North Macomb Vicariate (1991-94); the former Hub Vicariate (1990-91); and the former West Detroit Vicariate (1970-73).
While Fr. Sutherland's ministry spanned many decades and stops, his time as the founding pastor of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish will carry a lasting legacy, said Chris Piebiak, director of family ministry at the parish.
The church community’s first home was a storefront in a strip mall, Piebiak recalled, but Fr. Sutherland had a more colorful description.
“Fr. Tom would often say, ‘Yeah, I founded the parish in a massage parlor,’ because the previous tenant was a massage parlor, and he would tell this story to anybody,” Piebiak laughed. “I’d hear him saying it to priests, bishops, whomever, and he would always do that slow pause and they would look at him like, ‘What the heck are you talking about?’ Sometimes he would explain it, and sometimes he wouldn’t, and there would be that awkwardness and I would have to explain it to the people — it was a laugh.”
To this day, the earliest members of the parish community are referred to as “storefronters,” and Fr. Sutherland worked shoulder to shoulder with them to build the parish into the thriving community that it is today, Piebiak said. Photos from the storefront days show Fr. Sutherland decorating the space for Christmas, confirmations and baptisms.
When the community was eventually able to secure a loan and move to the current church building, Fr. Sutherland was determined to build the parish as quickly as possible, and rallied his parishioners to raise money alongside him.
“He did it in record time,” Piebiak said. “He was able to rally the people to answer the call. He wasn’t a leader who said, 'Do this, do this, do this;' he was a leader who was there working with them. The people knew that he was donating his money to the parish and would never ask of them what he was not willing to do. Looking at pictures from the existing building, there are pictures of him in black slacks and a white undershirt, painting and sweeping; he was right there with his people, which is what rallied his people to give everything they had.”
Fr. Sutherland was granted senior status on July 1, 2005, transitioning into a new role in life where he “did more listening than speaking,” Msgr. Kasza said in his homily.
Piebiak recalls seeing Fr. Sutherland at Mass three or four times a week, and that he was a faithful attendee of Thursday Mass followed by Eucharistic adoration.
“He would sit in the church for two hours, and because he was such an icon, he would be in front of the Blessed Sacrament, but people would see him and want to talk to him,” Piebiak said. “He would never dismiss them, nor give that appearance of, ‘You are interrupting my time with Jesus.' He would purposefully sit in the very back because he knew people would be coming to him to talk. He thought, 'Here I am trying to encounter Christ, but I am encountering Christ because the people are here.'”
Fr. Sutherland’s time in front of the Eucharist was spent in equal parts accompanying parishioners through joys and sorrows.
“I've had a handful of parishioners express to me almost in the same language how Fr. Tom was there for the most joyous parts of their life and the most sorrowful parts of their life, but he was there for them,” Piebiak added.
Fr. Sutherland is predeceased by his parents, Ariel and Helen (Holmes) Sutherland, and his siblings, Mary Lois Sutherland, Sr. Kathleen Sutherland, OP, Marilyn (the late Paul) Rizzo, John Joseph Sutherland, and Marion (Harry) Faris. He is survived by his siblings, Mary (the late Doug) Hosefeld, Margaret (the late Charles) Missig, F. Patrick (Joan) Sutherland, Judy Sutherland, and Daniel (Frances) Sutherland.
Condolences may be sent to Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Directors, 8459 Hall Road, Utica, MI 48317.
“Fr. Tom would want all of us to live in love, to pray for priests, to support those in ministry, and to create relationships that are built on our relationship with Christ,” Msgr Kasza said. “As our patroness, St. Therese of Lisieux, would say, ‘Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love.’”
