By Ana Rodriguez Soto - Florida Catholic newspaper

This report has been expanded and revised since its original posting. Funeral arrangements have been added at the end and some corrections have been made. 

MIAMI | Msgr. Martin Cassidy, a priest for nearly 62 years who built —literally —two South Florida churches, has died.

Msgr. Cassidy died around 10 p.m. March 27 after a short illness. He had retired from active ministry in October 2010, after serving as pastor of Assumption Church in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea for 19 years. He was 88 years old and had served in South Florida for 59 years. He received the title of monsignor in July 2007.

The Irish-born monsignor oversaw the construction of Assumption Church, which was dedicated in 1994. An art collector and aficionado, he contributed ideas to its architectural design, which at the time of its dedication was described as “spectacularly beautiful.”

“It’s one of great aesthetic attraction and beauty,” said Father Michael Greer, Msgr. Cassidy’s successor as pastor of Assumption Church. “People really marvel as they come in. There is a simplicity but also the mixture of stained glass and marble.”

Father Greer noted that despite his retirement, Msgr. Cassidy “was still very in tune with what was going on here at the parish. He would maintain contact and join us, when able, for liturgies and events.”

Msgr. Cassidy also rebuilt St. Gregory Church in Plantation in 1982, just three years after a fire damaged much of the original structure.

“I have spent 50 years in the priesthood,” he said when he was named a monsignor in 2007. “And I must say I enjoy every day.”

Father Greer, who also has Irish ancestry, said he always marveled at Msgr. Cassidy’s “great love and knowledge of Irish history and literature.” Aside from English, he also spoke French, Italian and Spanish.

Born Feb. 23, 1931, in Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland, Msgr. Cassidy was one of 11 siblings. He studied at St. Kieran’s Seminary in Kilkenny and was ordained June 2, 1957 for the Diocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh in Scotland. He served there until coming to South Florida in 1960.

His first assignments here were as parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception in Hialeah (1960); St. Anthony in Fort Lauderdale (1962-63); St. Monica in Opa-Locka (1963-64); and St. Matthew in Hallandale (1964-65). He served as administrator of St. Catherine in Sebring (1965-67, now part of the Diocese of Venice) and St. Kieran in Miami (1967-70) until being named pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Riviera Beach (1970-74, now part of the Diocese of Palm Beach).

From 1974 to 1991, he served as pastor of St. Gregory in Plantation, where he also expanded the school. He was named pastor of Assumption in 1991, where he served until his retirement from fulltime ministry.

He was one of four siblings who entered the priesthood or religious life. His brother, Father Peadar Cassidy, was a Columban missionary who served in China and the Philippines; another brother, Canon Michael Cassidy, served in the Diocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh in Scotland; and his sister, Sister Mary Justin Cassidy, was a Columban missionary who served for decades in Hong Kong. They also had a cousin, Archbishop Joseph Cassidy, who served in the Archdiocese of Tuam, Ireland.

Msgr. Cassidy is survived by one brother, Dr. Ciarán Cassidy of Dublin, Ireland; a nephew, Gerry O’Reilly, who lives in South Florida; and other relatives in Ireland, some of whom will be coming to his funeral.

The viewing will take place Tuesday, April 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Assumption Church, 2001 S. Ocean Blvd., Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, April 3, at 11 a.m. at Assumption, followed by burial at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery in North Lauderdale.