A funeral Mass has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria for Msgr. Emmett Edward Higgins, a senior priest of the Diocese of Peoria and former pastor of parishes in Monticello, Streator, Pontiac, Lincoln, Atlanta, Mason City, Elkhart, and Mt. Pulaski.

Msgr. Higgins, a former vicar of the Pontiac vicariate, died at 12:10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, at OSF St. Clare Home in Peoria at the age of 80.

Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, will be principal celebrant of the funeral Mass.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at Wright and Salmon Mortuary, 2416 N. North St., Peoria, and at St. Mary’s Cathedral one hour prior to Tuesday’s funeral Mass.

Burial will take place at St. Columba’s Cemetery in Ottawa on Wednesday at 1 p.m.

Born Aug. 16, 1931, in Ottawa to Emmett A. and Mercedes Barrett Higgins, he attended St. Columba’s Grade School and was a 1949 graduate of Ottawa Township High School. His preparation for the priesthood was at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, and St. Paul’s Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.

He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria by Bishop William E. Cousins at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Peoria, on June 2, 1957.

He served as parochial vicar of St. Mark’s Parish, Peoria, from 1957 to 1973, when he was named pastor of St. Philomena’s Parish, Monticello. Two years later, he became co-pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Streator.

In 1986, he began 12 years of service as pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, Pontiac. During that time, he was named vicar of the Pontiac vicariate in 1994.

From 1998 until his retirement in 2004, he served as pastor of Holy Family Parish in Lincoln and St. Mary’s, Atlanta, along with periods as pastor of neighboring parishes including St. Columba’s, Mason City, St. Patrick’s, Elkhart, and St. Thomas, Mt. Pulaski.

For many of his years in senior status, he resided in the rectory of St. Patrick’s Church in Hennepin, where he frequently offered Mass at that parish and Sacred Heart, Granville.

He was named a prelate of honor with the title of monsignor by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000.

Msgr. Higgins formerly served on the Diocese of Peoria’s presbyteral council and is a former chair of the diocese’s parishes and institutions committee.

In a 2007 interview with The Catholic Post on the occasion of his 50th anniversary of ordination, Msgr. Higgins said he had been “blessed” in his priestly life and learned not to worry about things that aren’t important in life. “I kind of relax and let God tell me what to do,” he said, emphasizing the listening aspect of prayer.

Msgr. Higgins is survived by his only sibling, Ann (Jack) Wahlig of Des Moines, Iowa, and their children: Patti (Mark) Pokorney, Joe (Laurie) Wahlig, Teri (Mark) Feldmann, Julie Wahlig, Mary (Eric) Jones, Amy (Jon) Rowland, Ann (Jim) Funk, Kate (Jim) Wainwright, 16 great nieces and nephews and many friends who feel like family.

Msgr. Higgins was a lifelong Cubs fan, an active member of the National Association of Priest Pilots, and a season ticket holder to the Chicago Lyric Opera.

Memorial donations may be made to OSF St. Clare Home or OSF Hospice Care.