ANDERSON — Msgr. Thomas A. Evatt, former pastor of St. Mary Help of Christians Church in Aiken, died July 18 at his residence.
The funeral Mass was celebrated by Bishop Robert J. Baker July 22 at St. Joseph Church. Burial was at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
Thomas Austin Evatt was born in Providence, R.I., May 18, 1950, a son of the late James A. and Mary E. Evatt.
He was a graduate of St. Mary College, St. Mary, Ky. He received his Master’s in Divinity from Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, N.Y.
He was ordained Dec. 18, 1976, in St. Joseph Church, Columbia. He served as associate pastor at St. Joseph in Charleston, St. Joseph in Columbia and Prince of Peace in Taylors.
He was pastor of St. Cyprian Church in Georgetown, Precious Blood of Christ Church in Pawleys Island, St. Mary Church in Summerton, Stella Maris Church in Sullivan’s Island, and Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Greenville.
Msgr. Evatt served as director for continuing education for the Diocese of Charleston, was active as a team priest for Marriage Encounter and served as an instructor in the permanent diaconate program. He resigned from ministry in May 2002.
In a statement released July 18, Bishop Baker offered his condolences and prayers for parishioners and staff of St. Mary Help of Christians.
“Let us all pray that the Lord of Life and Hope bring healing and peace to Monsignor Evatt and his family,” he stated. “We also pray that the Lord bring us all together at this time to experience the victory that Christ’s death and resurrection has won for all of us.”
Surviving are three brothers, Michael Evatt of Simpsonville, John Evatt of Traveler’s Rest, and James Evatt of Greenville, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic School Building Fund, 1303 McLees Road, Anderson, S.C. 29621.