- Born on: September 14, 1929
- Departed on: June 17, 2005
James Clement Milota
Fr. Milota gave the most informative and encouraging homilies I've ever heard--in 8 minutes or less. His work with the Lakota in South Dakota led first my mother and then me to assist those fine people, as we still do. I wish I had known he was living in North Iowa; I would have visited him.
My sympathies to the family of James Milota. I remember him well as a teacher at Regis High School in Cedar Rapids about 1970. He was a terrific teacher. He spoke his mind! And we admired him for it. He was really the first one to stir our feelings for social justice and made us aware of what was really going on in the world. He was not one bit afraid to speak out against that awful Vietnam War that was raging at the time. That was rare then. He had guts and gave us the courage to speak up for what we believed in. He was a good man and I will always have fond memories of him. Kevin Bader Cedar Rapids
May God bless this wonderful man. In my early 20s, Fr. Minolta was a sponsor of a Catholic youth group in Mason City. I was an active participant in this group and I gained a great deal of maturity from my association with Fr. Minolta. His being "in tune" with college-age youth was so important to us....he created conditions that made us all enjoy our group activities and, therefore, grow as persons....he was really good at paying attention to our individual needs. In my case, my dilemma included being "in love" with a divorcee. After a few months of his loving guidance, though, Fr. Minolta talked me through this lack of good judgement and helped me on my way to a positive future. He helped me see the potential for a better moral-ethical future with a person with fewer encumberances. As a result of his great advice, I moved on to a happy married life of 43 years (so far) to a wonderful woman who gave me two wonderful sons and a very successful and fulfilling relationship. Thank you my dear friend. Please greet me when I arrive in your presence.
