Hundreds Pack Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph For Funeral of Msgr. John Delendick
PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Msgr. John Delendick, the FDNY Catholic chaplain who passed away from 9/11-related pancreatic cancer on Nov. 23, was remembered at his funeral Mass on Friday, Dec. 1, as a brother to firefighters and as a good and faithful shepherd.
Hundreds of FDNY members, dignitaries, clergy, members of Msgr. Delendick’s family and other mourners gathered at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights for the Mass of Christian Burial.
Bishop Robert Brennan, who was the main celebrant of the Mass, said he admired Msgr. Delendick for walking side by side with firefighters through both happy times and painful days.
Msgr. Delendick served as an FDNY chaplain from 1996 until his death on Thanksgiving Day at the age of 74 and was a big comfort during and after 9/11, speaker after speaker said during the Mass.
Msgr. Delendick arrived at the World Trade Center just after the second plane hit and offered absolution to anyone who requested it. He presided over numerous funerals of FDNY members in the days and weeks after 9/11, offering comforting words to help New York’s Bravest cope with their pain and sorrow.
He also spent a great deal of time at the World Trade Center site in the weeks and months after the terror attack and was eventually diagnosed with pancreatic cancer — becoming one of thousands of people who contracted cancer, respiratory diseases, and other illnesses from breathing in the toxic dust.
“Pope Francis often uses the image of the shepherd who walks in front of his people, in the midst of his people, and behind his people,” Bishop Brennan said.
Addressing the hundreds of firefighters seated in the co-cathedral, Bishop Brennan added, “I think of the ways in which he walked shoulder to shoulder with all of you and let’s face it, that’s one of the reasons we’re saying farewell to him in an untimely way.”
A large photo of Msgr. Delendick was placed in front of the altar, along with his FDNY helmet.
Msgr. Delendick had a deep kinship with firefighters that was born out of a common desire to serve, said Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, the FDNY’s Jewish chaplain, who was a friend of his.
“He loved being in the sanctuary but he loved being in the firehouse,” Rabbi Potasnik said. “He died on Thanksgiving. And he loved Thanksgiving because he could share much of the time with his firefighters.”
Msgr. Delendick was such a steady presence at FDNY events over the years that FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh admitted at the Mass that she would often find herself looking over at the spot where he would normally sit. “In his absence, I feel sorrow and a loss of words. I think we all do. But I also feel gratitude and comfort and knowing he is finally at peace,” she said.
Kavanagh described Msgr. Delendick as a man who quickly grew accustomed to having his phone ring in the middle of the night due to FDNY emergencies and who donned big, black work boots and bunker gear at fire scenes.
“With his quick wit, and sometimes sharp tongue, he easily blended in with our members and he was a favorite among them,” she said.
That view was reinforced in a letter from Lenore Koehler, the former director of special events for the FDNY, that was read aloud by Lt. Joseph LaPointe. LaPointe said Koehler is currently waging her own battle against cancer.
“After a time, walking into the firehouse with him was like walking in with a rock star. The members respected him but they also loved him,” Koehler wrote.
Msgr. Delendick served as a priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn for nearly 50 years. He was ordained in 1977 and served as assistant at St. Catherine of Genoa Church in East Flatbush (1977-1982) and Good Shepherd Church in Marine Park (1982-1986).
He was appointed pastor of St. Michael-St. Edward Parish in Fort Greene in 1982 and served there until 1991. From 1988 until 1991, white still at St. Michael-St. Edward, he was also serving as administrator of St. Ann-St. George Parish in Downtown Brooklyn.
He was named pastor of St. Agnes Church in Cobble Hill and served there from 1993 to 1999 and then served as pastor of St. Michael Church in Sunset Park from 1999-2004. He was named a monsignor in 2003.
From 2004 until his retirement earlier this year, he was the pastor of St. Jude Church in Canarsie.
Msgr. Delendick’s love of Jesus Christ shined through every encounter he had in his life, recalled Msgr. Richard Ahlemeyer, pastor of St. Camillus-St. Virgilius in Rockaway Park, who delivered the homily.
“Whether in a restaurant, a firehouse, or a rectory table, all who met John went away better and happier. His kindness, smile, his stories, and his warmth brought the presence of Jesus to all whom he met even in the darkest and most difficult times” said Msgr. Ahlemeyer, who was an old friend of Msgr. Delendick’s.
“The life of Monsignor John Delendick was a living Gospel for so many people,” he added.
Following the Mass, Msgr. Delendick’s remains were placed on a firetruck for the journey to his final resting place at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village.