Reverend Raymond Cotter

Rev. Raymond C. Cotter was born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and attended grade school there at Sacred Heart Academy before heading to St. Joseph’s Seminary in Grand Rapids for his high school education. He began his studies for the priesthood at Christopher House (Aquinas College, Grand Rapids), and later went to Resurrection College, University of Waterloo, Ontario. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at St. John’s Seminary, and a Masters of Divinity from Waterloo. He was ordained for the Diocese of Gaylord by Bishop Robert J. Rose on November 28, 1986.

Fr. Cotter’s assignments for the Diocese of Gaylord have literally taken him from one coast to the other – he began his priestly duties as an Associate Pastor at St. John the Baptist, Alpena and moved the following year to the same post at St. Francis of Assisi, Traverse City. Between those first years and the present day, Fr. Cotter has taken on many different roles including working in the Tribunal Offices and serving as the Director of Vocations. He spent three years serving in priestly service to the Diocese of Anchorage, as well as two years service in the Diocese of Marquette. Currently Fr. Cotter serves as the Pastor of a cluster of parishes: St. Francis of Assisi, Lewiston; St. Mary, Mio; St. Augustine, Hillman; and Jesus the Good Shepherd, Atlanta.