Retiring Rev. Otto hopes he left legacy

The Rev. David Otto would keep on preaching if he could.

His mind is willing, but the combination of 40 years worth of arthritis and getting hit by a vehicle have left his body feeling otherwise.

“I keep saying my body is overjoyed, but my heart is not there yet,” said the 64-year-old.

Otto officially retires from his leadership role at St. Mary’s Church in Niles Wednesday, making way for the new pastor, Alphonse Savarimuthu, to come in. A meet and greet will be held July 19-20 for Savarimuthu after all masses.

Otto came to the Niles parish in 2006 after spending 18 years at Our Lady of the Lake in Edwardsburg.

He actually attended class at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niles where he grew up.

“I was very excited about the opportunity to come home,” said Otto of returning to lead the Niles parish. “It was interesting to be the boss at a place where you spent eight years as a little kid.”

Otto hopes he inspired people to overcome obstacles in their own lives, much like he did with his health issues.

Otto has dealt with debilitating arthritis since his early 20s. To make matters worse, he fractured vertebrae in his back when a car hit him while he was bicycling in Niles in 2007. The accident left him unable to bicycle — an activity he loved dearly.

Otto has also been unable to drive a car since 1983 because of bad eyesight.

“All along I knew I had been dealt a bad hand, but I didn’t want that to ruin my life,” Otto said. “My attitude always is that you don’t ask the question — why me? You don’t get anywhere with that. I would always be grateful for what I have and all the blessings God has given me. I use that as a motivator to keep going.

“I hope over the years that I gave people encouragement to never give up, no matter what the situation.”

Otto plans to spend a lot of time in retirement at his Niles home, while continuing to preach as often as his body allows.

For now, he will lead the Spanish mass at 6 p.m. on Sunday evenings. He plans to do services at area nursing homes and migrant camps.

“I am sure I will do whatever I can do,” he said. “I know I’ve slowed down but I still hope to make it a prayerful time, enjoy my beautiful surroundings.”

Otto has been a priest for 37 years.

His replacement, Savarimuthu, is from India, but has been in the Diocese of Kalamazoo for the last four years — three in St. Joseph and one in Sturgis.