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The Rev. Monsignor James Patrick Finucan

The Rev. Monsignor James P. Finucan, 85, a Catholic priest for 62 years and former pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Stevens Point, died Friday, June 12, 2009, at St. Joseph Rehabilitation Center in La Crosse.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Christ the King Chapel in La Crosse, with the Rev. Joseph Hirsch as the main celebrant. Burial was at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick Cemetery in Eau Claire.

The Diocese of La Crosse and the family were assisted by Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home of La Crosse.

Monsignor Finucan was born Oct. 1, 1923, in Eau Claire, a son of the late Edwin and Isabel (McDonald) Finucan. He attended St. Patrick Elementary School and St. Patrick High School in Eau Claire; then Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Md.

He was ordained a Catholic priest on March 22, 1947, at St. Joseph Cathedral in La Crosse by the Most Rev. John P. Treacy.

Monsignor Finucan's first assignment, on March 31, 1947, was as secretary to Bishop John P. Treacy. On June 30, 1954, he was appointed vice chancellor of the Diocese. On Aug. 29, 1956, he was named Papal Chamberlain to His Holiness Pope Pius XII, with the title Monsignor, and was invested by the Most Rev. John P. Treacy on Dec. 2, 1956.

Monsignor Finucan was appointed as Chancellor of the Diocese on April 6, 1960.

On June 22, 1965, he was appointed as pastor of St. Joseph Parish at Stevens Point. Locally he spearheaded ecumenism in the city with pastors of Presbyterian, Lutheran and Episcopal churches.

He was then appointed associate pastor at St. Anne Parish at Wausau on June 6, 1973.

On June 15, 1977, he was released from his pastoral assignments to undertake graduate studies at the Divine Word Centre in London, Ontario, Canada.

In 1978 Monsignor Finucan was assigned as pastor at St. Wenceslaus Parish at Eastman and also to be associated with the team ministry at St. John Nepomucene Parish at Prairie du Chien.

On Dec. 13, 1983, he was appointed as pastor at St. James the Greater Parish at Eau Claire where he served until 1985 when he was appointed as pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish at Cooks Valley.

Monsignor Finucan retired on Aug. 10, 1988. He resided at Holy Cross Diocesan Center for many years before moving to St. Joseph Rehabilitation Center in La Crosse.

Survivors include one brother, The Rev. J. Thomas Finucan; and two sisters, Mary (Kirby) Hendee and Peg (Bob) Fennig.



	The Rev. Monsignor James Patrick Finucan The Rev. Monsignor James P. Finucan, 85, a Catholic priest for 62 years and former pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Stevens Point, died Friday, June 12, 2009, at St. Joseph Rehabilitation Center in La Crosse. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Christ the King Chapel in La Crosse, with the Rev. Joseph Hirsch as the main celebrant. Burial was at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick Cemetery in Eau Claire. The Diocese of La Crosse and the family were assisted by Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home of La Crosse. Monsignor Finucan was born Oct. 1, 1923, in Eau Claire, a son of the late Edwin and Isabel (McDonald) Finucan. He attended St. Patrick Elementary School and St. Patrick High School in Eau Claire; then Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Md. He was ordained a Catholic priest on March 22, 1947, at St. Joseph Cathedral in La Crosse by the Most Rev. John P. Treacy. Monsignor Finucan's first assignment, on March 31, 1947, was as secretary to Bishop John P. Treacy. On June 30, 1954, he was appointed vice chancellor of the Diocese. On Aug. 29, 1956, he was named Papal Chamberlain to His Holiness Pope Pius XII, with the title Monsignor, and was invested by the Most Rev. John P. Treacy on Dec. 2, 1956. Monsignor Finucan was appointed as Chancellor of the Diocese on April 6, 1960. On June 22, 1965, he was appointed as pastor of St. Joseph Parish at Stevens Point. Locally he spearheaded ecumenism in the city with pastors of Presbyterian, Lutheran and Episcopal churches. He was then appointed associate pastor at St. Anne Parish at Wausau on June 6, 1973. On June 15, 1977, he was released from his pastoral assignments to undertake graduate studies at the Divine Word Centre in London, Ontario, Canada. In 1978 Monsignor Finucan was assigned as pastor at St. Wenceslaus Parish at Eastman and also to be associated with the team ministry at St. John Nepomucene Parish at Prairie du Chien. On Dec. 13, 1983, he was appointed as pastor at St. James the Greater Parish at Eau Claire where he served until 1985 when he was appointed as pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish at Cooks Valley. Monsignor Finucan retired on Aug. 10, 1988. He resided at Holy Cross Diocesan Center for many years before moving to St. Joseph Rehabilitation Center in La Crosse. Survivors include one brother, The Rev. J. Thomas Finucan; and two sisters, Mary (Kirby) Hendee and Peg (Bob) Fennig.