Rev. Richard Yost, OSFS (1947-2024)
With everlasting hope in the Resurrection, we announce that our beloved brother and confrere, Rev. Richard Yost, OSFS, died at the age of 76 on Saturday, January 13, 2024. He was a professed member of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and professed his first vows in September of 1967 and was ordained a priest on May 1, 1976. Fr. Yost served the people of God as a priest and teacher. He was especially devoted to deaf ministry in the Archdiocese of Detroit at both Our Lady of Loretto West Detroit Catholic Deaf and St. John’s Deaf Center. He enjoyed teaching at Brother Rice High School and celebrating Mass in various Detroit-area parishes. Fr. Rich lived a faithful life and a good life.
Born in Toledo, Ohio on February 17, 1947, he was the son of Paul Yost and Helen Rose (Thomas) Yost. As a student at St. Francis de Sales High School, Fr. Yost first encountered Oblates of St. Francis de Sales as his teachers. After his graduation from St. Francis, Fr. Yost entered the Oblate Novitiate in Childs, Maryland in 1965. In his letter of acceptance to the Oblate Novitiate, the Provincial, V. Rev. John Conmy OSFS, wrote him, “Never doubt that what the good Lord has given you the grace to begin, He will also give you the grace to finish.” Fr. Yost kept those words in his heart. When requesting to be ordained as a priest, he wrote, “I recognize that requesting to be ordained to the Order of Priest is principally a faith response and I do this trusting that God’s grace will sustain me.” The Lord indeed sustained Fr. Yost and blessed his life and ministry. In his last words to his Provincial while in hospice, he said, “I have no regrets. I’ve had a wonderful life.”
Fr. Yost is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Helen Rose Yost, his sisters, Joann (Yost) Muir, Carol Jean (Yost) Smith, Kathleen (Yost) Bilka, his nephew, Troy Yost, and niece Emily Ann Kovacs. He is survived by his Oblate confreres, his brothers, Tom Yost and Jim Yost, and many nieces, nephews, greats and great-greats.
May the angels lead him into paradise and may he rest in peace.
Arrangements:
Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, January 18 at Our Lady of Loretto Roman Catholic Church in Redford, Michigan. Visitation will conclude with a prayer service from 6:30 – 7:00 PM
On Friday, January 19th at Our Lady of Loretto Roman Catholic Church in Redford, Michigan. Visitation will take place from 10:00 am – 11:00 am with the Mass for Christian Burial starting at 11:00 AM. A light reception will follow.
Burial will be on Saturday, January 20th, at Resurrection Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio at 11:00 AM.
If you would like to donate to the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in memory of Fr. Yost, please follow this link: https://rb.gy/6xziux
