When James Finn, Assistant Sacristan at St. Patrick Cathedral, decided to dedicate his life to God, he searched for a way of life that would demand a total giving. Total giving was not foreign to him, for as the oldest son of a widowed mother and brother to three sisters and a younger brother, concern and sacrifice were of necessity characteristic of his early years.
After preparatory seminary training, his choice fell to the Franciscan Capuchins. He sought admission to the Order and was accepted. Those who knew James Finn realized that he would persevere; for once he set himself to something he was not the type to renege.
In September 1947, when he entered the Capuchin Novitiate of St. Felix in Huntington, Indiana, he followed the custom in those days and chose a new name. With his father's name Finn, and his mother's name Farrell, it came to no surprise that he would seek a patron from the Irish Martyrology and chose the name Declan.
St. Patrick Cathedral Parish and his dear friend Bishop Flannelly were happy and proud to welcome this priest son of the parish home for his First Solemn Mass in June of 1954, the day after his ordination. Declan was not the type to boast, but he often enjoyed referring to his home parish.
Among the many assignments after his ordination, Declan spent the longest part of his priestly career at Sacred Heart as an Assistant and teacher of religion in the High School. He loved Sacred Heart people and he loved the youngsters in his quiet reserved way.
Few were the parochial or social events that he wasn't called on to entertain with his repertoire of Irish songs. Galway Bay was his specialty. Each time he sang it, it contained a love of remembrance of his parents. Each time he sang it, it was a happy protestation of his deep faith. The concluding words: "If there's going to be a life here after" were always amended by Declan to sing: "Since there is going to be…"
Father Declan's remains now lie inside the little Capuchin Cemetery among the remains of others he knew well and appreciated.
Declan, who had been working at Sacred Heart in Yonkers since 1964, died on February 3, 1970. On January 15, he was hearing confessions of the Sisters who staff Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, New York, when he was stricken with a heart attack. He was taken to nearby Grasslands Hospital and remained in the intensive care unit until he was transferred to Saint John Hospital in Yonkers, New York on February 1. He died unexpectedly two days later.
After preparatory seminary training, his choice fell to the Franciscan Capuchins. He sought admission to the Order and was accepted. Those who knew James Finn realized that he would persevere; for once he set himself to something he was not the type to renege.
In September 1947, when he entered the Capuchin Novitiate of St. Felix in Huntington, Indiana, he followed the custom in those days and chose a new name. With his father's name Finn, and his mother's name Farrell, it came to no surprise that he would seek a patron from the Irish Martyrology and chose the name Declan.
St. Patrick Cathedral Parish and his dear friend Bishop Flannelly were happy and proud to welcome this priest son of the parish home for his First Solemn Mass in June of 1954, the day after his ordination. Declan was not the type to boast, but he often enjoyed referring to his home parish.
Among the many assignments after his ordination, Declan spent the longest part of his priestly career at Sacred Heart as an Assistant and teacher of religion in the High School. He loved Sacred Heart people and he loved the youngsters in his quiet reserved way.
Few were the parochial or social events that he wasn't called on to entertain with his repertoire of Irish songs. Galway Bay was his specialty. Each time he sang it, it contained a love of remembrance of his parents. Each time he sang it, it was a happy protestation of his deep faith. The concluding words: "If there's going to be a life here after" were always amended by Declan to sing: "Since there is going to be…"
Father Declan's remains now lie inside the little Capuchin Cemetery among the remains of others he knew well and appreciated.
Declan, who had been working at Sacred Heart in Yonkers since 1964, died on February 3, 1970. On January 15, he was hearing confessions of the Sisters who staff Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, New York, when he was stricken with a heart attack. He was taken to nearby Grasslands Hospital and remained in the intensive care unit until he was transferred to Saint John Hospital in Yonkers, New York on February 1. He died unexpectedly two days later.
When James Finn, Assistant Sacristan at St. Patrick Cathedral, decided to dedicate his life to God, he searched for a way of life that would demand a total giving. Total giving was not foreign to him, for as the oldest son of a widowed mother and brother to three sisters and a younger brother, concern and sacrifice were of necessity characteristic of his early years.
After preparatory seminary training, his choice fell to the Franciscan Capuchins. He sought admission to the Order and was accepted. Those who knew James Finn realized that he would persevere; for once he set himself to something he was not the type to renege.
In September 1947, when he entered the Capuchin Novitiate of St. Felix in Huntington, Indiana, he followed the custom in those days and chose a new name. With his father's name Finn, and his mother's name Farrell, it came to no surprise that he would seek a patron from the Irish Martyrology and chose the name Declan.
St. Patrick Cathedral Parish and his dear friend Bishop Flannelly were happy and proud to welcome this priest son of the parish home for his First Solemn Mass in June of 1954, the day after his ordination. Declan was not the type to boast, but he often enjoyed referring to his home parish.
Among the many assignments after his ordination, Declan spent the longest part of his priestly career at Sacred Heart as an Assistant and teacher of religion in the High School. He loved Sacred Heart people and he loved the youngsters in his quiet reserved way.
Few were the parochial or social events that he wasn't called on to entertain with his repertoire of Irish songs. Galway Bay was his specialty. Each time he sang it, it contained a love of remembrance of his parents. Each time he sang it, it was a happy protestation of his deep faith. The concluding words: "If there's going to be a life here after" were always amended by Declan to sing: "Since there is going to be…"
Father Declan's remains now lie inside the little Capuchin Cemetery among the remains of others he knew well and appreciated.
Declan, who had been working at Sacred Heart in Yonkers since 1964, died on February 3, 1970. On January 15, he was hearing confessions of the Sisters who staff Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, New York, when he was stricken with a heart attack. He was taken to nearby Grasslands Hospital and remained in the intensive care unit until he was transferred to Saint John Hospital in Yonkers, New York on February 1. He died unexpectedly two days later.
After preparatory seminary training, his choice fell to the Franciscan Capuchins. He sought admission to the Order and was accepted. Those who knew James Finn realized that he would persevere; for once he set himself to something he was not the type to renege.
In September 1947, when he entered the Capuchin Novitiate of St. Felix in Huntington, Indiana, he followed the custom in those days and chose a new name. With his father's name Finn, and his mother's name Farrell, it came to no surprise that he would seek a patron from the Irish Martyrology and chose the name Declan.
St. Patrick Cathedral Parish and his dear friend Bishop Flannelly were happy and proud to welcome this priest son of the parish home for his First Solemn Mass in June of 1954, the day after his ordination. Declan was not the type to boast, but he often enjoyed referring to his home parish.
Among the many assignments after his ordination, Declan spent the longest part of his priestly career at Sacred Heart as an Assistant and teacher of religion in the High School. He loved Sacred Heart people and he loved the youngsters in his quiet reserved way.
Few were the parochial or social events that he wasn't called on to entertain with his repertoire of Irish songs. Galway Bay was his specialty. Each time he sang it, it contained a love of remembrance of his parents. Each time he sang it, it was a happy protestation of his deep faith. The concluding words: "If there's going to be a life here after" were always amended by Declan to sing: "Since there is going to be…"
Father Declan's remains now lie inside the little Capuchin Cemetery among the remains of others he knew well and appreciated.
Declan, who had been working at Sacred Heart in Yonkers since 1964, died on February 3, 1970. On January 15, he was hearing confessions of the Sisters who staff Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, New York, when he was stricken with a heart attack. He was taken to nearby Grasslands Hospital and remained in the intensive care unit until he was transferred to Saint John Hospital in Yonkers, New York on February 1. He died unexpectedly two days later.
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