November 14, 2019

Memorial Mass for Bishop Maguire to be held Nov. 21 at St. Michael’s Cathedral

REGIONAL
Staff report

SPRINGFIELD – A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield on Nov. 21, in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the death of Springfield Bishop Emeritus Joseph F. Maguire.

Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski will celebrate the 4 p.m. Mass. All are welcome to attend.

A reception in the Bishop Marshall Center will follow the Mass.

Bishop Maguire was 95 years old when he died on the evening of Nov. 23, 2014 in his residence on Elliot Street in Springfield. At the time of his passing, he was in the 70^th year of his priesthood and his 42^nd year as bishop. His last major public appearance was on June 1, 2013, when he took part in priesthood ordination ceremonies at St. Michael’s Cathedral.

Bishop Maguire came to the Springfield Diocese as a coadjutor bishop in 1976 and became the fifth bishop of Springfield on Oct. 15, 1977. During his 38 years in the diocese, he was known for his kindness and friendly nature and for being a true shepherd to all people.

An estimated 650 to 700 lay people attended the Dec. 1, 2014 funeral for Bishop Maguire, along with more than 100 priests and deacons from the Springfield and Fall River dioceses, as well as bishops from Maine and Connecticut. Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, was the Mass presider and Bishop Rozanski was the principal celebrant.

Bishop Maguire is buried in St. Michael the Archangel Mausoleum at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Springfield.