Father “Ted” Edwin B. Metzger, Jr., a priest of the Diocese of Rochester for more than 60 years, went home to the Lord on July 2, 2018. He passed peacefully at the age of 88. Father Metzger, a lifelong Rochester native, was born in Rochester on January 16, 1930, the son of Edwin and Florence (Kesel) Metzger.
Father Metzger attended St. Michael’s Church Parish as a child, then Aquinas Institute, St. Andrew’s and St. Bernard’s seminaries in Rochester, and earned a Master’s degree in Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Father Metzger was ordained at Sacred Heart Cathedral on June 4, 1955, by Bishop James E. Kearney. He then served as assistant pastor at St. Mary Parish in Auburn (1955-57), Christ the King Parish in Irondequoit (1957-63), and St. Anne Parish in Rochester (1963-68).
In 1968, Father Metzger became director of Field Education for St. Bernard’s Seminary, where he served until 1975. He was pastor at Holy Redeemer Parish in Rochester from (1975-80) and at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Geneva from 1980-88. In 1988, he became a Maryknoll associate priest and was sent to Kenya, where he served as a missionary in three dioceses over the next decade.
In 1998, he returned to the Diocese of Rochester and served as assisting priest at the six worship sites of Good Shepherd Catholic Community. In 2003, he served at Holy Name of Jesus Parish and later Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, in Greece. Father Metzger was passionate about his family’s roots in Rochester and serving his beloved community.
He was also an avid fan of opera and world travel. He is survived by his loving nephew, Ted Miller, niece Amy Miller Simmons, grand nieces and nephews Emma, Olivia, Henry and Madeline, and cousins Lori and Chuck Beyrle and their families. Father Metzger enjoyed his wonderful circle of friends and so appreciated his regular visitors to his home at the Legacy.
The family would like to thank Margaret and Tom Cameron for their devoted care and friendship. Calling hours for Father Metzger will be on Wednesday July 11, 2018, at St. Michael’s Church, 869 N. Clinton Ave. , Rochester, beginning at 4 PM.
, and concluding with Vespers at 7 PM. The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Rochester, will preside at the Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, July 12, 2018, at 10:00 AM at St. Michael’s Church, 869 N. Clinton Avenue, Rochester. Burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Father Edwin Metzger’s name to: House of Mercy houseofmercyrochester.org/donate/, Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester www. dor.org/index. cfm/stewardship/giving/ or Fathers and Brothers Maryknoll Africa Region maryknollafrica.org/maryknoll-society-in-kenya/ in his memory.
For more information or to sign Ted’s online guestbook, please visit Meesonfamily.com To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Father Edwin “Ted” Metzger, please visit our Tribute Store.
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