tvc.dsj.org | August 20, 2019
IN THE DIOCESE
3
The Diocese Bids Farewell to Founding Bishop Pierre DuMaine
By Liz Sullivan
Bishop Pierre DuMaine’s Episcopal
Motto was “Gaudium et Spes” or “Joy
and Hope.”
“For Bishop DuMaine, that was
more than a motto; it became a way of
life,” said Monsignor J. Patrick Browne
during his homily. “This community
will continue to make those words
ring true.”
Those feelings were felt throughout
the Funeral Mass held for Bishop
DuMaine on June 27 at the Cathedral
Basilica of Saint Joseph. The Mass was
celebrated by Bishop Oscar Cantú
and concelebrated by recently retired
Bishop Patrick J. McGrath.
DuMaine, the founding Bishop of
the Diocese of San José, passed away
peacefully in his sleep on June 13 at
the age of 87.
Also in attendance were: Roger
Cardinal Mahony, Archdiocese of Los
Angeles; William Cardinal Levada,
Archdiocese of San Francisco; and
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone,
Archdiocese of San Francisco.
Roland Pierre DuMaine, son of No-
lan Amidee DuMaine and Mary Eulalia
Burch, was born in Paducah, Kentucky
on August 2, 1931.
After attending Saint Mary’s Acad-
emy in Paducah and Holy Family
School in Glendale, California, he en-
tered Saint Joseph’s College Seminary,
Mountain View, and Saint Patrick’s
Bishop Oscar Cantú and Bishop Emeritus Patrick J. McGrath preside at the Funeral Mass
held for Bishop Pierre DuMaine on June 27 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph.
Seminary in Menlo Park.
Ordained a priest for the Archdio-
cese of San Francisco on June 15, 1957,
Father DuMaine served as assistant
pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Parish in Belmont before he was as-
signed to graduate studies at the
Catholic University of America, from
1958-1961.
After receiving a doctoral degree
in education, he served on the faculty
of Catholic University and Serra High
School in San Mateo, and was Arch-
diocesan Assistant Superintendent of
Schools and Superintendent from 1965
until 1978, having been named a Prelate
of Honor of his Holiness (Monsignor)
in 1972.
Bishop DuMaine was ordained
Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco on
June 29, 1978, serving in that capacity
until March 18, 1981, when he became
the founding Bishop of the Diocese of
San José.
Amidst great difficulties, Bishop
DuMaine succeeded in the largest
privately funded renewal project of
downtown San José; the restoration
of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Jo-
seph. These efforts insured that the
Cathedral Basilica survived the 1989
earthquake and became what it is
to this very day; the crown jewel of
downtown San José.
“Bishop DuMaine knew beginning
a new Diocese was not an easy task. He
knew it was not a one man show. He
trusted those around him and they in
him,” said Browne.
Before the conclusion of the Mass,
Bishop McGrath, who succeeded
DuMaine as Bishop in 1999, offered a
reflection about the man and priest he
knew well.
“I have known Pierre for more than
50 years, he was always very kind and
patient with me. He always referred
to me as his unworthy successor. I
thought it was a joke, although at times
I wondered. He was kind and compas-
sionate. Pierre dealt with everything
with great courage and valor. I am go-
ing to miss Pierre. I already miss him.
The last seven years have been difficult
as he surrendered himself to God. It has
been kind of a long good-bye.”
“Knowing Pierre, right now he is
looking at his watch, or whatever they
have in Heaven, and is saying, ‘For
God’s sake, PJ, move on; I have people
to see and places to go, but not before
I give thanks to God for him touching
our lives.”
“I ask the Lord now to take him
home and reward him for his great,
great goodness.”
Statement from Bishop Oscar Cantú on Deadly Violence in El Paso and Dayton
From the community still wound-
ed from a mass shooting just a week
ago in Gilroy, we send our prayers
and heartfelt concerns to the people
of El Paso and Dayton, and all those
affected by the recent shootings that
have left 29 people dead and many
wounded. We grieve with the fami-
lies of the deceased and pray for the
recovery of the wounded and injured.
We think of those who harbor
hat red a nd fea r i n t hei r m i nd s
and hearts: we remind them that
it is unacceptable to take out their
frustrations on the innocent. All
human persons are created in God’s
i mage a nd l i keness a nd, a s t he
Declaration of Independence affirms,
possess inalienable rights to “life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Moreover, we are reminded that
each of us in the human family bears
a responsibility for each other: for
brother, sister, neighbor. Thus, it is
important that we realize the im-
pact that language and attitudes of
racism, discrimination, and hatred
can have on others. We also encour-
age each other to report to proper
authorities any warning signs we
notice in others that reveal hatred
and a willingness to hurt others or
themselves.
Finally, we stand in solidarity with
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo and Bishop
Frank Dewane in their statement on
behalf of the US bishops: “The plague
that gun violence has become contin-
ues unchecked and spreads across our
country. Things must change. Once
again, we call for effective legislation
that addresses why these unimagi-
nable and repeated occurrences of
murderous gun violence continue to
take place in our communities.”
May the God of peace bring comfort
to the families of the deceased and
healing to the wounded and injured.
May we all heed the words of Jesus,
“love one another.”
Statement from Bishop Oscar Cantú
regarding the shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival
Our hearts are heavy with sadness
in the wake of the horrific shooting that
claimed the lives of at least three inno-
cent victims and injured several others
at the Gilroy Garlic Festival on July 28.
I am grateful for the first responders
and individual citizens, whose quick
thinking and professional actions
saved countless lives.
My thoughts and prayers are with
the victims, survivors and their fami-
lies in this time of sorrow. May God,
the source of our faith and strength,
grant comfort and hope to all those
affected by acts of violence. May grief
give way to healing and grace, as we
work together to protect the innocent
and prevent future massacres, so that
peace may prevail in our hearts and
communities.
Editors note: A bilingual prayer
vigil for victims, survivors and first
responders was held on July 29 at St.
Mary’s Parish in Gilroy.