Francis Quinn

Francis Anthony Quinn (September 11, 1921 – March 21, 2019) was an American Roman Catholic prelate who served as the bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento in California from 1980 to 1993. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco from 1978 to 1979.

After his retirement, Quinn ministered for several years to Native American communities in the Southwestern United States.

Early life Francis Quinn was born on September 11, 1921, in Los Angeles, California, to Frank Quinn and Anne Chierici. At age 14, he entered St. Joseph's Seminary in Mountain View, California. He then entered St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California. He was awarded a bachelor's degree spent four post-graduate years of theology studies.

Priesthood Quinn was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco on June 15, 1946, by Archbishop John Joseph Mitty in San Francisco. A few months after his ordination, the archdiocese sent Quinn to Washington, D.C. to attend the Catholic University of America. He earned an Master of Arts degree in education in 1947.

After returning to San Francisco, the archdiocese assigned him to the faculty of Serra High School, in San Mateo, California. He was transferred in 1950 to Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco. Quinn was named as an assistant superintendent of schools for the archdioceses in 1955. He received a Doctor of Education degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1962. He was appointed editor for the San Francisco Monitor in 1962. In 1970, Quinn was named pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in San Francisco, his first pastoral position. He became president of the priests senate in 1973.

Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco Pope Paul VI on April 24, 1978, appointed Quinn as titular bishop of Numana and as an auxiliary bishop of San Francisco. He was consecrated on June 28, 1978, by Archbishop John Raphael Quinn at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco.

Bishop of Sacramento On December 18, 1979, Pope John Paul II appointed Quinn as bishop of Sacramento.

From 1980 to 1992, seven new parishes, several missions, two elementary schools, and one high school were established. He oversaw a 10-year pastoral plan for the diocese as well as a spiritual renewal program, reorganized the deanery structure, initiated a diocesan pastoral council, and celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the diocese.

Quinn inspired and encouraged women to lead in parish governance, educational, liturgical, financial and social ministries. He also activated lay individuals to continue their formation and assume leadership roles in various groups and movements. He supported the launch of an HIV/AIDS hospice and he protested the death penalty on the steps of the California State Capitol in Sacramento and at prison gates. He also spoke up regarding nuclear disarmament, immigration policies, and many foreign issues.

Retirement and death Quinn retired in 1993, then spent several years with the Yaquis people in Arizona. In 2007, he returned to the Diocese of Sacramento. He took up residence at Mercy McMahon Terrace, a residence for seniors run by the Sisters of Mercy in midtown Sacramento, and continued to serve as an activist for social justice and human rights issues, especially for the poor.

Quinn died in Sacramento on March 21, 2019, at age 97. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living bishop in the United States.

The former Bishop Quinn High School in Palo Cedro, California was named in his honor.

Francis Quinn

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