Affectionately known as Father Mac, The Right Reverend Monsignor Jerome Vincent Anthony MacEachin (1904-1987) was associated with Lansing-area Catholics for nearly forty-five years. A native of Ubly, he was ordained in 1932. Father Mac was appointed as the first superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Lansing (1940 To 1955). He became pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas in 1943. He founded the parish grade school in 1949 and St. John Student Center at Michigan State University in 1957. He was a lecturer in theology at MSU from 1943 to 1966. His loves in life were Catholic schools, MSU, the Knights of Columbus and the State Police. All his life he sought to do some spiritual good for each person he met whether young or old, without regard to creed. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jerome Vincent Anthony MacEachin is the great uncle of Jim Ditton. Born in Ubly son of John Daniel and Mary Jane. one of eight boys and three girls total of eleven children born and raised in Ubly. He attended Ubly Public Schools. Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. Mary's Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was selected by Bishop Joseph H. Albers to atttend the Catholic University Of America in Washington D.C. where he recieved a master's degree in Education he was then appointed Superintendent of Schools for the diocese of Lansing and in fifteen years of his adminstration saw catholic education double. He was a barber and also like being a magician he was also involved with the Knights Of Columbus joined the priesthood became a priest in 1932. When Fr. Cecil Winters died Bishop Albers appointed Fr. Jerome Vincent MacEachin as the second pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in East Lansing in May of 1943 till his retirement in 1978. In 1948 the property was purchased on Alton Road a school was opened in September of 1949 95 students in six different grades he oversaw buliding of convent school additions present church was dedicated in 1968 at the time of dedication the church faceted glass window was the largest in north america the student center was erected in 1946-1957 student parish seperated from the church in 1957 80 families in 1940 to over 2,200 in 1983 school grew from 96 in 1949 to 800 in 1964. He was assistant pastor of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Owosso St. Philip Catholic Church in Battle Creek and pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Charlotte. He crossed the ocean 16 times conducted pilgrimages to principal religious shrines of the world Europe, South America, The Holy Land and Mexico. he was chaplin for the Michigan State University Football Team went with them to four Rose Bowls. also lecturer in religion on the college for 23 years in 1957 he established the Catholic Newman Student Center and St. John Parish. he was elevated to the dignity of monsignor on August 8, 1954 by His Holiness Pope Pius XII. He was also the Dean of the Michigan State Police and Chaplin Corps having been appointed to the Corps in 1960. He was very good friends with George Perles coach for Michigan State University Football Team he was also friends with Hugh Duffy Daugherty. Loved to play golf. Proud to be scottish. He retired from the priesthood on January 22, 1978. After 45 years of service to God. But still continued to serve till his death. Predeceased by two sisters Isabel V. Martin and Frances E. MacEachin. And brothers Little Roy, Ned, Norman James, Dougal Dominic and Roy Cornelius Mack Of Arizona. He is survived by his sister Sarah (Sally) Morgan Of Bad Axe brothers Kenneth Grandville and wife Mary Of Dearborn Heights Angus Mark Hennigan and wife Kathryn Of Ubly. The funeral was held on December 4, 1987 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church of East Lansing with Bishop Kenneth Povish officiating the service the state police were pallbearers with a state flag on the casket. The Gorsline- Runicman Funeral Home of Lansing was in charge of the arrangements. The family had another funeral on December 5, 1987 at St John The Evangelist Catholic Church in Ubly. With the Zinger Funeral Home of Ubly in charge of arrangements and with the nephews as pallbearers and i was one of them He had private audiences in Rome at St. Peter's Basilica with the following Pontiffs during his years as a priest. His Holiness Pope Pius XI, His Holiness Pope Pius XII, His Holiness Pope Saint John XXIII, His Holiness Pope Saint Paul VI, His Holiness Pope John Paul I and His Holiness Pope Saint John Paul II. Fr Jerry will be buried in the family plot at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church Cemetery in Ubly. Fr Jerry had some sayings like There are no office hours for the man who loves God. If you have a problem come over and let us help you with it if you don't have a problem come over and tell us how you do it. If everyone waited until he could do a job so well that no one could find fault with it nothing would ever be done. If you cannot help us we want to help you But if you can help us and don't God help you. The soul of education is the education of the soul. Keep Smiling. Keep your roses in the sun. Be kind to your mother. Keep first things first