Bishop Emeritus John S. Cummins, the second and longest-serving bishop of Oakland, died on Dec. 3. He was 96.
"Our diocese has lost a father, grandfather, shepherd and true priest of Jesus Christ," Bishop Michael C. Barber of Oakland said. "May Christ the Good Shepherd welcome Bishop John into the eternal reward prepared for him who served the flock of Oakland so well."
Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento in a statement said, "The bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and faithful in the Diocese of Sacramento join with our brothers and sisters in Oakland to mourn the death of the beloved pastor and dear friend to many, the Most Rev. John S. Cummins. May the Lord welcome his faithful disciple and servant to the eternal liturgy of heaven.
"He was wise, kind and encouraging to all. It was an honor for me to enjoy his companionship and benefit from his always thoughtful counsel. His apostolic legacy will be a source of inspiration for the Church to continue serving as a joyful leaven throughout California of the wisdom and charity of the Lord Jesus."
Bishop Cummins was born on March 3, 1928, and was raised in Berkeley. After receiving a Master of Divinity degree from St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, he was ordained on Jan. 24, 1953 at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco.
He served as associate pastor at Mission Dolores Basilica in San Francisco, as campus minister at San Francisco State University, and then was appointed as a faculty member at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland in 1957.
Five years later, he was named the first chancellor of the newly-created Diocese of Oakland, under Bishop Floyd Begin. He was then appointed executive director of the California Catholic Conference (of Bishops) in Sacramento, a post he held until 1977.
In 1974, he was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento and served in that role until 1977. Following the death of Bishop Begin, the founding bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, he was appointed the second bishop of Oakland and installed on June 30, 1977. He led the diocese for 26 years, retiring at the mandatory age of 75 on Oct. 1, 2003.
"His commitment to the implementation of the Second Vatican Council, his compassion for the poor and marginalized, and his dedication to building bridges with people of other faiths and cultures has enriched not just the local Catholic community, but all who came in contact with him," the Diocese of Oakland said in a statement.