Fr. John Bradley

1935 - 2020

March 25, 1935 - October 3, 2020 Fr. John A. Bradley was born in Orange, California, on the 25th of March, 1935.His father was John Allen "Jack" Bradley the first elected Head of the Orange County Flood Control District. Mr. Bradley was responsible for the completion of Prado Dam and various waterways throughout Orange County. He was both a licensed civil and mechanical engineer who received his education from Stanford University. His mother was Arlie Lucille Delker who was born in Hollywood, California. As a young girl, Marilyn Monroe was one of her playmates. Arlie was a gifted pianist. I have one sister, Linda Walker, who is 18 and a half years younger than I. She is happily married to Daniel Walker, CEO and chairman of the Board of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Long Beach. In fact, I had the privilege of officiating at her wedding at the Holy Family Cathedral. They were blessed with two children Mathew and Christine. Loved ones left behind; Fr. John's nephew and his family: Mathew and Wendy Walker, and their children Cassieta, Jonathan and A.J. Fr. John's niece and family: Dave and Christine Bowman, and their children Vivienne and Elise. My journey of faith begins with my baptism at St. Agnes Church in Los Angeles, just after I had turned 21, and three months before graduation from the University of southern California. I majored in German and minored in French, completely unaware that I would ever need to speak Spanish. Three years after my baptism and having taught English, German, and French in a public high school in Oregon, I entered the Franciscan seminary at Old Mission San Luis Rey. Novitiate was a year at Old Mission San Miguel, followed by studies in theology at Old Mission Santa Barbara. I was ordained on the 18th of December, 1965, in Santa Barbara.When I entered seminary, I figured that I would not be in a position to travel all over the world. Yet I was willing to make the sacrifice to become a priest. During my priesthood I have visited nearly 150 countries on all seven continents. These travels and adventures have enriched my life beyond my dreams. In 1976, just as the diocese of Orange was founded, I returned to Orange County due to the serious illness and death of my father. I was incardinated into the diocese in 1979. My final assignment before retiring in 2004, was as pastor of San Felipe de Jesus Catholic Church in Capistrano Beach.Some of my greatest joys have come to me as a retired priest. I consider it a great privilege to go to various parishes to say Mass, hear confessions, and to do all the things for which I was ordained.Service schedule is as Follows:10/13/2020 – Viewing 5:00PM-6:00PM /Vigil 6:00PM-8:00PMHoly Family Cathedral, in Orange10/14/2020- Funeral Mass 10:00AM at Christ Cathedral, in Garden GroveImmediate following interment at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, in Orange