A Mass of Christian Burial for Deacon Thomas Gorski was celebrated Sept. 12 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in St. Louis. Deacon Gorski died Sept. 4. He was 81 years old.
He was born on Nov. 25, 1944, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He married his wife, Elsie, on Nov. 22, 1970.
Deacon Gorski was ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of Chicago on Dec. 16, 1979. He was incardinated in the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, in 1987, then relocated to St. Louis in 1992 with an assignment to assist the pastor at Cure of Ars Parish in Shrewsbury. He was assigned in 1994 to Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in St. Louis, where he continued to serve until his death. Deacon Gorski was incardinated in the Archdiocese of St. Louis on April 25, 1996.
In addition to his sacramental and liturgical duties such as assisting at Mass, preaching, Benediction, presiding at baptisms and leading Stations of the Cross, he served as a Marriage Tribunal advocate and was heavily involved in ministry to the poor and those in need. He worked at Catholic Charities of St. Louis from 2000 to 2009. He also was a board member for Cardinal Ritter Senior Services, a board member for the Peter and Paul Housing Corporation and a speaker for the TEACH Missions sponsored by the Claretian Order on behalf of missionaries in Guatemala.
Deacon Gorski is survived by his wife, Elsie; children, Marie and Josh; and four grandchildren.
