Father Xavier Colavechio, O. Praem., age 86, a member of the Norbertine Community of St. Norbert Abbey died March 22.
Father Colavechio was born on April 7, 1931, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Archibald and Catherine (McCrossen) Colavechio.
He graduated from St. Norbert College (SNC) in 1952 and earned graduate degrees in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, and from the Catholic University of America.
He entered St. Norbert Abbey as a novice on August 28, 1948 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 1955.
Father Colavechio taught at SNC for more than 15 years, known to most of the college students as “Rocky.” He later served as the rector of the Norbertine Generalate in Rome.
In 1989, Father Colavechio was one of the original members of the Norbertine Priory of St. Moses the Black in Raymond, where he served as administrator and pastor of Jackson St. Mary Parishand vocation coordinator until 2003.
In 2005, the Norbertine Abbot General appointed Father Colavechio to represent the order to a small community of priests who were seeking affiliation with the Norbertine Order. In addition to this, Father Colavechio assisted at St. Agnes Parish, Green Bay, and ministered at the Quad Parishes of Green Bay.
In his later years, he resided at St. Norbert Abbey, working in internal ministry.