1910 – 1989 (August 4)
Ambrose J. Godsil was born May 22, 1910 in Aurora, Illinois, to James Godsil and Ella McCarthy, and was baptized June 5, 1910, at St. Mary Church, Aurora. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation in October, 1924, at St. Rita Church, Chicago, Illinois. Following graduation in 1925 from St. Rita Elementary School, Ambrose enrolled in St. Rita High School, Chicago. After two years there, he transfered to Lindblom High School, Chicago, which awarded him a high school diploma in 1929. Following graduation, he spent five years in the work force, and, in 1934, entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, where he did a year of post-graduate studies in Latin. He was received into the novitiate on September 9, 1935, and professed simple vows on September 10, 1936 and solemn vows on September 10, 1940. He then earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, and pursued theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C. from 1940 to 1944. While studying Theology he also did graduate studies at the Catholic University of America, Washington, earning an M.A. in Psychology in 1944. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1944.
Father Godsil taught in the 1944 summer school session at Cascia Hall School, Tulsa, Oklahoma. He then was assigned to St. Rita High School, Chicago, where he taught until 1949. He began a career in parish ministry that year, when he was assigned as assistant pastor of St. Clare of Montefalco Parish, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. In 1952 we went to St. Matthew Catholic Parish, Flint, Michigan, as assistant pastor. From 1956 to 1965 he was assistant pastor of St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic Parish, Chicago. He returned in 1965 to St. Matthew Parish, Flint, as assistant and prior of the community. In 1966 he was named pastor of St. Matthew. When he reached the age of 70 in 1980, Father Godsil retired as pastor, but remained active there in ministry.
In the mid-1980’s Father Godsil suffered increasingly from ill health. He died August 4, 1989 in Flint of cardiac arrest brought on by respiratory illiess. He was 79.
As a parish priest, Father Godsil was always faithful to his service and became very close to the hearts of the people. He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.
