Bishop Cummins remembered at home parish

A perfect combination of holiness, humility and humor

Bishop Cummins remembered at home parish

By Christine Schreck

St. Augustine in Oakland, home parish of Bishop John S. Cummins whose childhood home was approximately a mile from the church, celebrated a memorial Mass in his honor on March 18. It was 97 years to the day since his baptism as a 15-day-old baby. Bishop Cummins, Oakland’s second bishop from 1977-2003, passed away on Dec. 3, 2024.

Father John Prochaska presided with Father Dana Michaels concelebrating. Both were ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Cummins. Father Prochaska recalled serving as a master of ceremonies for the bishop while in the seminary and in the early days of his priesthood. Father Michaels, retired since 2022, said he had been with Bishop Cummins from the beginning, having been accepted to the seminary the day after Bishop Floyd Begin’s death.

The Gospel reading for the Mass was John 10:11-16, the Good Shepherd, chosen for the occasion because organizers remembered Bishop Cummins as a good shepherd to his flock and beyond. “How pastoral can one be when there are so many different advisory boards, meetings and administrative responsibilities that are put on that shepherd? Bishop John was able to meet that challenge and to be with the people and connect with the people,” Father Prochaska said in his homily.

“He was a most encompassing good shepherd, not just to the two counties of our diocese, Contra Costa and Alameda,” added Father Michaels during the post-Communion time to share remembrances. His ministry didn’t end with his retirement. Father Michaels also noted that he actively ministered to the sick, including AIDS patients, after his retirement.

Other speakers remembered Bishop Cummins for his pastoral nature and his humanity. One former chancery worker recalled, “You got introduced to Bishop John, and he never forgot your name.”

Bishop Cummins remained close to his roots and a loyal supporter of St. Augustine School until it permanently closed. For an alumni reunion on the occasion of the school’s 70th anniversary, Bishop Cummins sent in the first RSVP and wanted to help in any way he could.

Finally, he was remembered as a faithful correspondent. One longtime parishioner sent Bishop Cummins the news about the changes to the parish cluster late last year. She received a typed letter back. It struck her later that the date on the letter was just before his death. She said, “When he signed his name, it wasn’t Bishop Emeritus John Cummins or Bishop John. It was just John. And I thought he was John the human being first before he was John the priest and John the bishop.”

For more on Bishop Cummins’ legacy and funeral services, see https://oakdiocese.org/bishop-john-cummins-memorial 

PHOTO CAPTION: 

St. Augustine in Oakland, home parish of Bishop John S. Cummins, has a memorial chapel dedicated to the second bishop of the Oakland Diocese. Photo by Christine Schreck