Father George J. Ridick, 76

Father George J. Ridick, 76, retired pastor of Sacred Heart-St. Catherine of Sweden Parish in Worcester, died Dec. 21 in St. Vincent Hospital.  

    Father Ridick was born in Worcester on Jan. 29, 1945, the son of George J. and Angela C. (Bender) Ridick. He graduated from Classical High School in 1963 and from Assumption College in 1967, where he was an All-America basketball player.  

He prepared for the priesthood at St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, from 1969 to 1973. He was ordained on June 2, 1973, at St. Casimir Church by Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan. 

    Following ordination, he was assigned as associate pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Worcester.  In October 1976, he entered the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps.  He returned to the Diocese of Worcester and was named temporary administrator of St. Denis Parish, Ashburnham, in June 1983. In July 1983, he was appointed temporary associate of Our Lady of the Angels Parish. In October 1983, Father Ridick was assigned to the Lithuanian College/Gregorian University, Rome, where in May 1986, he was awarded a master's degree in clinical religious psychology.  He was assigned as associate pastor of St. Roch Parish, Oxford, on June 27, 1986.   

On June 1, 1988, he was named pastor of St. Catherine of Sweden Parish, Worcester. On June 30, 2007, he was named pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Worcester, while remaining pastor of St. Catherine of Sweden Parish, Worcester, and later was named pastor of the newly established Sacred Heart-St. Catherine of Sweden Parish located at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. 

He was inducted into the Worcester Public Schools 2015/2016 High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He led the Classical High School Tigers to two District 3 playoffs and one championship. He was named to the All-City team. An entry in the Class of 1963 Classical yearbook called him “possibly the greatest basketball player ever to emerge from Classical High.”  

He retired in June 2018 and had been living with other retired priests in Southgate at Shrewsbury. 

In an interview last January, Father Ridick reflected on his 45 years in the priesthood. “Every day was different,” he said, “and you had contact with people throughout their lives and in so many important moments of their lives from birth until death and in sickness in between, marriages, setbacks, victories and accomplishments. You were part of people’s families through the years. You celebrated them with sacraments, you celebrated them with activities in the parish and in the community, and you just encouraged each other to do better as we continue through life’s journey. It wasn’t always easy. Sometimes, as a matter of fact, the harder it was, the more you knew you were needed.” 

He is survived by his brother, James G. Ridick and his wife Nancy (Foley) of Worcester; nephew Timothy Ridick; his nieces Kate Ridick and Kris Sullivan. He is predeceased by his sister, Georgiana Ridick.

Calling hours will be begin at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27, in Sacred Heart Church, 596 Cambridge St., with a vigil service at 7 p.m.

A concelebrated funeral Mass, with Bishop McManus as principal celebrant, will be at Sacred Heart-St. Catherine of Sweden Parish church, 596 Cambridge St., on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at 11 a.m. The committal service and entombment will follow in St. John Mausoleum, Worcester. Dirsa-Morin Funeral Home, 298 Grafton St. is assisting the family with arrangements.