Retired Auxiliary Bishop James J. Daly, 92, of the Diocese of Rockville Centre and a Blue Point, L.I., resident, died Oct. 14.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Oct. 18 at the Cathedral of St. Agnes, Rockville Centre, L.I.

A native of the Bronx, he was raised in Queens and attended Cathedral College, Brooklyn, and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, L.I.

He was ordained a priest for the Brooklyn Diocese by Bishop Thomas E. Molloy at St. James Pro-Cathedral, Downtown Brooklyn, on May 22, 1948.

In the Brooklyn Diocese, he served as an assistant at Our Lady of the Skies, Kennedy Airport, 1948-51; Holy Child Jesus, Richmond Hill, 1951; and St. William the Abbot, Seaford, L.I., 1951-57.

When the Rockville Centre was established in 1957, he was incardinated as a priest there. He was ordained as the See’s third auxiliary bishop on Feb. 28, 1977 by Bishop John R. McGann. Brooklyn Bishop Francis J. Mugavero preached the homily.

“In the many years that Bishop John McGann shepherded our diocese, Bishop Daly was the wisdom figure behind the scene,” said Msgr. James McNamara, who preached at the funeral Mass. “On many an occasion he bore the heat of the day and the mantle of discernment and never looked for credit or recognition.

“His dry sense of humor and his down-to-earth appreciation of life are treasures many of us will carry into the days ahead. In retirement he was configured to Christ on the Cross and yet was always appreciative of any kindness shown him.”

 

A Mass of Christian Burial for Deacon John J. Francis was celebrated Oct. 18 at Holy Family Church, Flushing. He died Oct. 15 at the age of 82 at Manor by the Sea, Ocean Grove, N.J.

Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros was the main celebrant of the funeral Mass. Father Thaddeus J. Abraham was the homilist.

He was ordained a deacon Dec. 3, 1977.

“Deacon John was a man who believed in living the Eucharist,” Father Abraham said in his homily. “Meeting people was breaking bread and knowing Christ in each other.”

“Everyone who came in touch with this man of God never forgot him. As much as he was human, he greatly desired to reflect the human love of God. Learning to love was the art John learned from the book of life.”

In 1950s, Deacon Francis began his life’s career in the army as a military reconnaissance photographer.

The next chapter of his life was as a deacon for the Brooklyn Diocese. He would boast, as Father Abraham recalled, “I was the first from our diocese to be certified as a deacon chaplain by the then U.S. Catholic Conference.”

Deacon Francis was also the first deacon chaplain of the diocese to represent the diocese on the national level.

For 22 years, he worked at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, Queens Village.

“He knew the preciousness of life, which his pastoral ministry had taught him,” Father Abraham said. “He was born on Christmas and wanted to be like Jesus all his life.”

Deacon Francis’ final chapter was at Holy Family parish. He prepared and baptized many children, participated in the bereavement group and counseled many parishioners during duty days in the parish.

“He called this parish his home,” Father Abraham said. “Who can forget Deacon John? He was, in his own way, the fire of Jesus.

“When one found him, he always had a story to tell, showing deep concern and never complaining, wanting to give all the time you wanted of him.

“He knew he was a deacon, meaning the one who serves, and he was ready to serve you with all the love he could give.

“All that he did, he did it quietly and in a very beautiful way, without anyone knowing about it.

“From some people we hear about Jesus because they know about Jesus and speak about him. In some people we meet Jesus, and Deacon John was one of them.”

Burial was in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston, R.I.