April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
OBITUARIES

Revs. Brian Cronin, 64, and Francis X. Gunn, OFM, 58

A funeral Mass was offered Sept. 1 at Blessed Sacrament Church, Albany, for Rev. Brian Cronin, who died Aug. 27. He was 64 and had been a priest of the Albany Diocese for 36 years.

A native of New York City, he served as associate pastor at St. Joseph's parish in Scotia and St. Madeleine Sophie in Schenectady; chaplain at St. Mary's Hospital in Troy; administrator of St. Joseph's parish in Cohoes; and pastor of St. Patrick's in Troy and Immaculate Conception in Schenectady. He also served as chaplain at Glens Falls Hospital, administrator at St. Margaret of Cortona in Rotterdam Junction and pastor of both Notre Dame des Victoires in Whitehall and Our Lady of Angels in Whitehall. He retired to Florida and Lake George in 2002.

Survivors include two brothers, Gene and Kevin. Interment was at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Niskayuna.

A funeral Mass was offered Aug. 30 at St. Pius X Church, Loudonville, for Rev. Francis Gunn, who died Aug. 24. He was 58 and had been a Franciscan friar for 32 years and a priest for 29.

A native of Brooklyn, he served at Siena College in Loudonville and in parishes and social service agencies in New Jersey and New York City. In February, he became pastor of St. Francis of Assisi parish in Northville and St. Joseph's in Broadalbin.

Survivors include four sisters, Eileen Amidon and Lorraine Comito of Saugerties, Patricia Shirley of Brooklyn and Joan Carr of Port Orchard, Wash. Interment was in Blue Mountain Cemetery, Saugerties.

When two priests who faithfully served the Albany Diocese pass away unexpectedly in one week - Father Cronin from an auto accident, Father Gunn from a fall - it brings to mind not just the grief and loss that parishioners and loved ones are suffering, but just how necessary the ministry of the priesthood is.

Fathers Cronin and Gunn had served in a variety of ministries, from parishes to hospitals to schools. Even in retirement, the priests of the Albany Diocese and those from religious orders who minister in the area provide the sacraments to thousands of Catholics each year. The loss of a priest, whether active or retired, is a blow to the Diocese as a whole.

In 1999, Father Cronin told The Evangelist, "I have found in the priests I have known the full range of goodness, charity, wisdom, kindness and talent. My reverence and respect for the priesthood and for the priests I know continues to deepen with each passing day. My vocation has been the greatest gift that I can imagine."

In another interview on the subject of gratitude, he remarked that "God is so generous in giving us the constant presence of Christ, the constant support of our faith. We just take it for granted."

The clergy, religious and laity who dedicate their lives to the promotion of faith cannot be taken for granted. Now is the time to pray for vocations - and to encourage vocations among the Catholics of the next generation.

May God hold Father Cronin and Father Gunn in His hands.

A funeral Mass was offered Aug. 25 at St. Mary's Church, Granville, for Deacon John Glennon, who died Aug. 22. He was 78 and had been a permanent deacon for the Albany Diocese for 29 years.

A native of Kingston, he had a medical practice in Granville until 1998 and was a school physician and volunteer for many medical and missionary organizations. He served as a deacon at Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Comstock and in Orlando, Fla.

Survivors include his wife, Anita; children, John, Robert, Ann Benjamin, Elizabeth Dean and Joseph; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two siblings, William and Margaret Jasinski. Interment was in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery, Middle Granville.[[In-content Ad]]

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