OAKLAND – John S. Cummins, the second and longest-serving bishop of Oakland, died Tuesday. He was 96.
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The Diocese of Oakland confirmed Cummins’ death, writing in a statement that the retired bishop emeritus “leaves a legacy of service to God through his priesthood and episcopacy.”
“Our diocese has lost a father, grandfather, shepherd and true priest of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Michael C. Barber said. “May Christ the Good Shepherd welcome Bishop John into the eternal reward prepared for him who served the flock of Oakland so well.”
Cummins was born on March 3, 1928, and raised in Berkeley. After receiving a Master of Divinity degree from St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, he was ordained on Jan. 24, 1953, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco.
Cummins’ first assignment was as associate pastor at Mission Dolores Basilica in San Francisco. He also served as campus minister at San Francisco State University until he was appointed as a faculty member at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland in 1957.
Five years later, Cummins was named the first chancellor of the newly created Diocese of Oakland. He was then appointed executive director of the Sacramento-based California Catholic Conference of Bishops in 1971, a post he held until 1977. Cummins also served as the bishop president of the conference from 1988 to 1997.
In 1974, Cummins was ordained as a bishop and installed as auxiliary bishop to the Diocese of Sacramento.
Following the death of Floyd L. Begin, the founding bishop of the Oakland Diocese, Cummins was appointed the second bishop of Oakland and installed on June 30, 1977. He led the diocese for 26 years, retiring at the mandatory age of 75 on Oct. 1, 2003.
Cummins, in addition to his duties as bishop, chaired several committees for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, including Migration and Refugee Services from 1995 to 1998. He also co-chaired the Roman Catholic-Reformed Presbyterian Dialogue Commission and was a delegate for the Synod of the Americas in Rome (1997), the Asian Synod in Rome (1998) and the IV Congress on Pastoral Care of Migrants (1998).
“His commitment to the implementation of the Second Vatican Council, his compassion for the poor and marginalized and his dedication to building bridges with people of other faiths and cultures has enriched not just the local Catholic community, but all who came in contact with him,” the Oakland Diocese said in its statement.
Cummins’ tenure was not without controversy. In a 2022 letter, defrocked Oakland priest Tim Stier expressed dismay that Barber, the current bishop, had not held Cummins accountable for his role in allegedly enabling sexual abuse by credibly accused priests in the diocese, this news organization reported at the time.
The letter accused Cummins of failing to prevent abuse by Vincent Breen, Don Broderson, James Clark, George Francis, Robert Ponciroli, Gary Tollner and Stephen Kiesle. All eventually were taken out of ministry and Broderson, Kiesle and Ponciroli were removed from the priesthood.
At the time, the diocese did not comment on Stier’s claims and Cummins could not be reached.
Funeral services will be publicized at www.oakdiocese.org, according to the diocese.
Check back for updates.
