The Rev. John Cummins, who rose from a priest at Mission Dolores in San Francisco to bishop of Oakland, has died, the Diocese of Oakland said. He was 96.
Cummins led Roman Catholics in Alameda and Contra Costa counties for 26 years, from 1977 until he retired in 2003 at 75. The diocese includes about 371,000 Catholics in 82 parishes.
“Our diocese has lost a father, grandfather, shepherd and true priest of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Michael C. Barber said in a news release. “May Christ the Good Shepherd welcome Bishop John into the eternal reward prepared for him who served the flock of Oakland so well.”
Cummins was born March 3, 1928, in Berkeley. He was ordained at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco in 1963.
His first assignment was at Mission Dolores Basilica in San Francisco as an associate pastor. He also served as campus minister at San Francisco State University until he was appointed to the faculty at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland in 1957.
In 1962 Cummins was named the first chancellor of the newly created Diocese of Oakland. He was ordained a bishop in 1974 and installed as auxiliary bishop to the Diocese of Sacramento.
In 1977 he became the second bishop of Oakland, succeeding the founding bishop, the Rev. Floyd L. Begin.
Cummins directed the California Catholic Conference and filled several leadership positions with the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in the areas of migration issues, laity, liturgy and ecumenical outreach, according to the diocese.
Funeral services will be publicized, the diocese said.