Msgr. Maurice Cameron Lahey

1916 - 2007

A Rosary followed by Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, January 25th, 9:00 am at St. Francis Parish Church for Msgr. Maurice Cameron Lahey, Pastor Emeritus of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Bakersfield, who passed away peacefully at Nazareth House in Fresno, California, Sunday, January 21, 2007. Msgr. Lahey was born to Ruth and Henry Lahey on April 19, 1916, in Cedar Grove, N. J. His early years were spent in New York and he graduated from Manhattan College. After six years as an insurance agent, Msgr. entered the Christ the King Seminary in St. Bonaventure, N.Y., in 1946. He was ordained to the priesthood June 8, 1950, at Our Lady of Lourdes, Brooklyn, N.Y. His first assignment in Bakersfield was as an Assistant Pastor at St. Francis from 1950-1954; he was Pastor at St. Francis from 1980-1993, retiring from active ministry to Nazareth House in Fresno. During his many years with the Diocese of Fresno he served the parishes of Bakersfield, Sanger, Fresno, Porterville and Livingston. He was Chaplain for Garces High School; Director of Catholic Youth Organizations; Director of Catholic Welfare; and Financial Administrator of San Joaquin High School. Msgr. was a simple man of God, who devoted one hour every day to prayer, believing prayer to be the foundation of all priestly and religious life. Those who were privileged to meet him found in him a wonderful model of the priesthood. Msgr. Lahey will be buried next to his mother at Holy Cross Cemetery in Fresno. It is requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Francis Parish School, c/o St. Francis Parish Church, 900 H Street, Bakersfield, 93304. Msgr. Maurice Cameron Lahey Apr. 19, 1916 - Jan. 21, 2007