In Loving Memory
+Friar Camillus Gott, OFM Conv.

Kindness personified with a passion for learning.

Friar Camillus (Harold) Gott entered eternal life on June 20, 2023, at Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces, NM. Friar Camillus was 91 years old; he had been a professed Conventual Franciscan for 71 years and a priest for 63 years.

Friar Camillus was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Jasper Gott and Margaret Mary Carlin Gott, and his brother, Michael Jameson Gott.

Harold Patrick Gott was born on May 11th, 1932, in Hollywood, CA. From a young age Harold knew the Conventual Franciscan Friars as he grew up in Pismo Beach, CA, where the friars had custody of St. Paul’s Parish. In 1947 he entered Mt. St. Francis Minor Seminary at Mt. St. Francis, Indiana. After graduation from the Minor Seminary in 1951, Harold entered St. Anthony Novitiate in Angola, Indiana and received the name, Camillus. He professed first vows on July 9, 1952. In 1956 he received a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and History from Assumption Seminary in Chaska, Minnesota. He was ordained a priest at St. Paul Cathedral in 1960. The following year, he received a Master’s degree in History from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana.

Friar Camillus served in a variety of ministries during his 63 years of priesthood: education (Mt. St. Francis Minor Seminary, Mt. St. Francis, IN, Bellarmine College, Louisville, KY, and the college of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN). Friar Camillus served as Vicar Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation from 1975-1978. He served as an Initial Formation Director at St. Bonaventure Friary in Washington, DC (1979-1981) and San Damiano Friary in San Antonio, TX (2006-2010). He also resided at St. Anthony Novitiate in Mishawaka, IN for four years. For eleven years, Friar Camillus served as a military chaplain with postings in Georgia, Germany, and Hawaii. He served on the Retreat Team at Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center in Prior Lake, MN from 2000 to 2006. From 2010 until his death he lived in Louisville, KY, Bloomington, MN and finally, Mesilla Park, NM. From the 1980s until a few years before his death, friar Camillus served as the team priest for numerous retreat programs sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

A Vigil Service will take place at the Chapel at Mt. St. Francis Center for Spirituality, at 7 pm on Sunday, July 16; the Mass of Christian Burial will take place at the Mount Chapel at 11:30 am on Monday, July 17. The burial of friar Camillus’ ashes will take place in the province cemetery afterwards.

Memorial Gifts may be sent to the Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Office of Mission Advancement, 103 St. Francis Blvd., Mount Saint Francis, Indiana 47146 or you can use the form on this page.