Ss. Robert and William Parish Welcomes Two Priests to Their Community

The parishioners of SRW are grateful to Fr. Scott for serving them and ministering to their needs.

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In mid-June, Ss. Robert and William Parish hosted a number of events to celebrate their priests. 

The first was to thank and bid farewell to Parochial Vicar, Fr. Scott Goodfellow who completed his four-year term at the parish.  Fr. Scott had numerous accomplishments while he was at SRW where he either grew existing ministries or launched new ones.  While he will be deeply missed by the parishioners, many prayers and good wishes go with him.  Fr.Scott will continue his ministry at St. Mary (Hudson) where he has been assigned.

Beginning their roles as Parochial Vicars (Associate Pastors) are Fr. Thom Kowatch and Fr. Tim Roth.  Along with Fr. John Betters, Pastor, they will be presiding at Masses and the Saccraments. A brief bio of the vicars are listed below.

Fr. Thom Kowatch

Fr. Thom Kowatch was born and raised on the west side of Cleveland, attending St. Thomas More Parish (Brooklyn) and St. Richard Parish (North Olmsted).  After graduating from North Olmsted High School, he attended Cleveland State University and transferred to Borromeo College of Ohio where he received his B.S. in Psychology and Communications in 1979.  His graduate work was at St. Mary Seminary where he received his M.Div.  His transitional deacon experience was at St. John Vianney Parish in Mentor. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Anthony Pilla on January 12, 1985. 

Fr. Thom came to Ss. Robert and William Parish in June of 2018 having completed 11 previous assignments. These assignments include being a Parochial Vicar, a Pastor, and a hospital chaplain for over 15 years. He is also a presenter for the World Wide Marriage Encounter- a marriage enrichment program.

Fr. Thom especially is grateful to be assigned to the vibrant faith community of Ss. Robert and William Parish.  He is excited to have the opportunity (though not limited to) teach children in the parish school; encourage people to develop a personal relationship with the Lord; live an active and involved faith life; seek to strengthen bonds of marriage; learn from and care for the elders of the community; and support those who face struggles, especially the sick.

His personal enjoyments include eating – chicken wings, French fries and any flavor of ice cream.  He welcomes the opportunity to view any lighthouse and any Indian’s game.  Away from the parish, he can be found doing some landscaping work or redecorating a room while listening to contemporary Christian music artists.  His bucket list includes learning about the “other side of the river” since he is a west sider of Cleveland.

He looks forward to meeting the people of Euclid and living here.

Fr. Tim Roth

Fr. Tim Roth was born and raised in Parma, Ohio, and attended St. Charles Borromeo Parish. After graduating from Parma Senior High School, he attended Borromeo Seminarywhere he received his B.A. in Philosophy through John Carroll University, then went on to St. Mary Seminary where he received his M.Div. and M.A. in Theology. He was assigned to Ss. Robert and William Parish in 2013 as a deacon before his ordination to the priesthood. He was ordained by Bishop Richard Lennon on May 17, 2014, along with his five classmates, and was assigned to St. Angela Merici Parish in Fairview Park for his first assignment.  

Fr. Tim enjoys watching sports and live music, playing guitar, snowboarding, traveling, and beer/bourbon tastings. Some of his influences include St. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis I, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Thomas Moore, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Maria Goretti, St. Gianna Molla, Rene Girard, Bp. Robert Barron, and his parish priests and religious sisters. 

Fr. Tim loves being a priest and feels very blessed to be called to serve the people of Ss. Robert and William Parish as parochial vicar, as well as assist the people of St. John of the Cross Parish. His greatest prayer is to not get in the way so that the Lord may use him in his ministry to assist others in recognizing the depths of God’s unconditional love for them, so that through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they, in turn, may grow in their love of Jesus Christ and desire to follow him wholeheartedly as disciples. 

(Fr. Tim and Fr. Thom, Contributors)