Redemptorist Father Peter Schavitz, 75, died Aug. 5 in Missouri. He devoted more than three decades of ministry to the preaching apostolate, and he was in such demand that his parish missions were often scheduled years in advance. Over his career in ministry, he preached 419 weeklong parish missions.

Born in Evanston, he attended St. Mary School in Des Plaines before entering the Redemptorist formation program at St. Joseph’s Preparatory College in Wisconsin.

He made temporary vows in 1970 and perpetual vows in 1974 before being ordained to the priesthood in 1976.

He was on the faculty at St. Joseph Preparatory college while earning a master’s degree in communication from the University of Wisconsin, and he served as his community’s vocation director and became involved in the Marriage Encounter movement.

After three years as a pastor in St. Louis, Father Pete served as director of Villa Redeemer Retreat House in Glenview for two years.

Father Pete found his niche in 1992, when he joined the Mission Team as an itinerant preacher based in Chicago. From 1992 to 2000, he lived at St. Alphonsus Parish, followed by five years at St. Michael Parish, while he traveled throughout North America giving missions and retreats.

After leaving Chicago, he served as president of the development office of the Denver Province before returning to the Mission Team at Liguori Mission House in Missouri.