Father Bruce Ammering, a retired diocesan priest and hospital chaplain, died Dec. 3, 2015. He was 88 years old.
Father Ammering grew up in St. Monica Parish in Rochester and attended the parish school before completing his seminary studies at St. Andrew’s and St. Bernard’s seminaries, also in Rochester. He was ordained June 5, 1954, by Bishop James E. Kearney at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
After his ordination, he served as assistant pastor at St. Patrick, Owego (1954-57); St. Aloysius, Auburn (1957); and St. Mary, Waterloo (1957-58). In 1958 he arrived at Monroe Community Hospital to begin what would become a 25-year term as the hospital’s chaplain. In 1983 he moved on to become pastor at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Rochester.
He retired from the pastorate at Blessed Sacrament in 2000. After retirement, he lived at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse in Pittsford, where he frequently celebrated Mass and helped out in any way he could.
"Father Bruce’s gentle presence warmed out hearts. He was an ever-present member of our motherhouse community," said Sister of St. Joseph Mary Anne Laurer. "As chaplain, he presided at daily eucharistic celebrations, and beyond that he prayed quietly at the bedsides of our sisters or brother priests who were seriously ill or dying. He was a great blessing for all of us."
In a 2014 interview with the Catholic Courier, Father Ammering, who was celebrating his 60th anniversary of ordination, discussed his many years of priestly ministry.
"It’s been wonderful," he said. "I’ve been very happy."
Bishop Emeritus Matthew H. Clark celebrated Father Ammering’s funeral Mass Dec. 5, 2015, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Rochester. Burial was in Rochester’s Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
