tvc.dsj.org | June 25, 2019 BISHOP PIERRE DUMAINE
Bishop McGrath Remembers Bishop DuMaine
By Liz Sullivan
As Bishop Patrick J. McGrath was
preparing to retire as the second Bishop
of the Diocese of San Jose this past
spring, he took time out to share some
thoughts on the man he succeeded –
Bishop Pierre DuMaine.
Bishop DuMaine died on June 13
at the age of 87. He was the Founding
Bishop of San Jose when it was formed
from the Archdiocese of San Francisco
in 1981. DuMaine served until he re-
tired in November 1999.
“I was very fortunate to work with
him,” said Bishop McGrath. “He was
very welcoming to me and always
supported me. I will always be grate-
ful for that. He was an exceptionally
bright man. He was an introvert, but
I was able to communicate with him
very well.”
Both men were ordained for the
Archdiocese of San Francisco and
served there as Auxiliary Bishops.
“He told me it was always
the number two pencil that
was most important.”
November 21, 1999 – Bishops DuMaine and McGrath at the Mass of Thanksgiving honoring
Bishop DuMaine for his 18 years of service as the first and founding Bishop of San Jose.
“Bishop DuMaine was educated in
the old system, before Vatican II (which
resulted in great reforms in the Catho-
lic Church),” said Bishop McGrath.
Bishop Cantú Remembers Bishop DuMaine
Bi shop Pier r e D u Ma i ne d ie d
peacefully Thursday evening, June
13, 2019, after dealing with declining
health for the last few years. He was
87 years old. Bishop DuMaine was
the founding bishop of the Diocese
of San Jose, established in 1981. He
served as bishop for the first 18 years
of the Diocese of San Jose.
When I was first named coadjutor
of the diocese last summer, Bishop
McGrath took me to meet Bishop
DuMaine. I saw that visit as a mo-
ment of grace: the first three bishops
of San Jose sharing in conversation
and a moment of fraternity together.
I also visited Bishop DuMaine on
Holy Thursday, during Holy Week.
While he was already in hospice
care because of his declining health,
we were nonetheless able to engage
in conversation. Most importantly,
I appreciated simply spending time
with a great human being, with this
important figure in the history of the
Diocese of San Jose.
Bishop DuMaine was born in Pa-
ducah, Kentucky, on August 2, 1931.
Educated in Catholic schools in Pa-
ducah and California, he attended Saint
Joseph’s College, Mountain View, and
Saint Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park.
Bishop DuMaine was ordained a priest
of the Archdiocese of San Francisco on
June 15, 1957. He earned his doctorate
in education at the Catholic University
of America in 1961 where he served as
Assistant Professor until 1963. From
1963 through 1965 Bishop DuMaine
taught at Serra High School. He then
served as Assistant Superintendent
and Superintendent of Schools for the
Archdiocese of San Francisco from
1965-78. Bishop DuMaine was named
Prelate of Honor on July 18, 1972. He
was ordained bishop in San Francisco
on June 29, 1978, where he served as
auxiliary bishop for three years.
He was founding Director of Catho-
lic Television Network in Menlo Park
from 1978-1981.
On January 27, 1981, Bishop Du-
Maine was named by Pope John Paul
II as the first bishop of the new Diocese
of San Jose, where he was officially in-
stalled on March 18, 1981. His request to
retire was accepted by the Holy Father
on November 27, 1999.
Since retirement Bishop DuMaine
had remained active in national Bish-
ops’ Committees for Science and Hu-
man Values and for Women in Society
and the Church. He participated in dia-
logues and conferences on Science and
Religion, and has taught in Religious
Studies Departments at Stanford and
Santa Clara Universities. Santa Clara
appointed him Presidential Professor
of Catholic Theology.
Bishop DuMaine, rest in peace.
Thank you for your service to human-
ity and to our Church!
+Oscar Cantú
“He was not afraid to expand on the
teachings of the Council. He took the
council very seriously. He was very
smart because he surrounded himself
with smart people.”
In retirement, Bishop DuMaine
remained a source of support for his
successor.
“He was always willing to give me
advice when I asked for it,” said Bishop
McGrath. “He didn’t force it on me, but
I always knew he was there when I
needed him. I am very grateful for that.
Bishop DuMaine, who earned a Doc-
torate in Education, always reminded
Bishop McGrath that the second Bishop
was the most important.
“He told me it was always the
number two pencil that was most im-
portant,” said Bishop McGrath with a
laugh. “It’s been difficult seeing him
age. He never complained about it. He
just took it in stride.”
Founding Bishop Pierre DuMaine
• Born: Paducah, Ky., August 2, 1931
• Resident of California since 1942
• Catholic elementary schools in: Paducah, Ky; Glendale, CA and San
Francisco
• 1945-57: high school, college and theological studies at seminaries in
the Archdiocese of San Francisco; Saint Joseph College, Mountain View
and Saint Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park.
• BA, 1953 – Saint Patrick College
• Ordained at Saint Mary Cathedral, San Francisco, June 15, 1957
• Assistant pastor: Immaculate Heart Parish, Belmont, 1957-58
• Assistant professor, The Catholic University of America, 1961-63
• Ph.D., The Catholic University of America, 1962
• Faculty, Serra High School, San Mateo, 1963-65
• Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of San Francisco,
1965-74
• General Director of Archdi-
ocesan Educational Network,
Menlo Park, 1968-81
• Named Prelate of Honor (Mon-
signor) by Pope Paul VI, 1972
• Appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of San Francisco, 1978
• Appointed first bishop of the
Diocese of San Jose, January
27, 1981
• Retired from active ministry,
became Bishop Emeritus of
San Jose, November 28, 1999
• Died: June 13, 2019
Bishop DuMaine’s personal Coat of Arms