News Archives


Fr. Greg Tolaas Passes Away on
September 7th

On June 20th, Greg Tolaas, pastor of St. Philip's Church in North Minneapolis, and a friend to CPCSM and the rest of the GLBT community, underwent nearly 20 hours of transplant surgery receiving two new lungs and a kidney. (See Doug Grow's column in 6/24/03 Star Tribune.)

However, in spite of Greg's miraculously valiant struggle to overcome incredible challenges and complications that followed his surgury, he passed away on September 7th at about 2:00 PM after he had returned about a week earlier to the intensive care unit to be treated for infections in his blood and intestines.

To review the miraculous story of Greg's roller-coaster hospital stay, including his incredible courage and the tireless and heroic support from his family and other loved ones, or to offer words of encouragement, visit: http://caringbridge.org/mn/gregtolaas. This special website which was created over a year ago especially for tracking and supporting Greg's health progress, had logged over 100,000 hits from concerned persons on six continents throughout the world.

Please remember Greg's family, other loved ones, parishioners, and his health care team in your thoughts and prayers.

We will miss you greatly, Greg, and shall never forget you and the example of Gospel peace and justice that you lived every day of your life and have given us to emulate. May you now be blessed a thousandfold with the same peace and comfort that you brought to so many others during your priestly ministry.

Recent Photos from Greg's Website