Obituary of Father Irwin FSSP

Fr. Michael Irwin was born on November 23rd, 1937 in Hutchinson, Kansas. His parents,
Lyman and Patricia Irwin and two brothers, David and Peter moved to Dallas in 1949.
He attended Hillcrest High School, graduating in 1955. He felt God calling him and
joined Assumption Seminary in 1959. He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Dallas
on May 30th, 1964 at Sacred Heart Cathedral and was thereafter attached to the
diocese of Fort Worth, created in 1969. He worked in various parishes in the region and
did missionary work in Mexico before joining the Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) in 1990.
He first served at the FSSP seminary in Germany, where he was the spiritual director
and confessor for the English and Spanish speaking seminarians. In July 1991, Fr. Irwin
became the first FSSP priest to serve in North America assigned to the continent’s first
FSSP apostolate in Dallas, Texas. He also led other apostolates in Rapid City, SD,
Vienna, OH, Maple Hill, KS and Post Falls, ID.
Fr. Irwin made Idaho his home in his later years helping at local parishes where needed,
including assisting at St. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Church in the Spokane Valley,
WA from 2009 until his health failed. In 2017 he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Lewy
Bodies disease in which he suffered from it until his death.
Father ministered to thousands as a parish priest, spiritual advisor and true Servant of
God. His rich Irish personality gave him an appreciation for humor, he was very social
and had a special affection for his dogs, dear friends and family. Father Irwin will be
deeply missed and made a huge impact this side of heaven. He is preceded in death by
his parents, Lyman and Patricia Irwin and his brother, David. He is survived by his
brother, Peter Irwin and his wife Darlene, his nieces and the Joe Schindler Family.
Funeral arrangements for +Fr. Michael Irwin, FSSP+ are as follows:
Location for viewing/rosary/funeral Mass: St. Thomas Catholic Church, Coeur d'Alene,
Idaho
Wednesday, September 25th
5:00-7:00 pm Viewing
7:00 pm Rosary
7:30 pm Byzantine Parastas ceremony
Thursday, September 26th
10:00 am Solemn High Requiem Mass
Burial following - Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls, Idaho
Reception at St. Thomas Hall in Coeur d'Alene
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Joan of Arc Building Fund or St. Cyril
and Methodius Byzantine Church.

Funeral services provided Bell Tower Funeral Home in Post Falls, ID.