By Rocio Granados - La Voz Catolica
MIAMI | Msgr. John W. Delaney, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Miami, died peacefully June 30, 2025, in his native Ireland. He was 86 years old.
Msgr. Delaney was born Feb. 26, 1939, in County Mayo, Ireland, to Katherine Brannick and Patrick Delaney. He was ordained June 22, 1964, at All Hallows College in Dublin. He arrived in South Florida in August of that year. He dedicated more than four decades to ministry to the growing Catholic population of the Archdiocese of Miami.
Photographer: FILE PHOTO
Msgr. John Delaney, an Irish-born Miami priest, died peacefully June 30, 2025. He served the Archdiocese of Miami for more than four decades.
“He really loved the liturgy,” recalled Father Michael Greer, recently retired pastor of Assumption Church in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. “His services were always organized. He was demanding but respected for what he did.”
Father Greer remembers Msgr. Delaney as “always very friendly, encouraging me,” during the six years he lived in residence after his ordination at Holy Family Parish in North Miami, where Msgr. Delaney was the pastor.
Although they met earlier, when Father Greer entered St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, and Msgr. Delaney was pastor at St. Edward Parish in Palm Beach at that time.
Father Greer recalled that Msgr. Delaney was the pastor of a young Thomas Wenski. The now - Archbishop of Miami was his altar server many times at Sacred Heart Church in Lake Worth, Florida.
“He enjoyed associating with his brother priests and was very committed to not only the priesthood but his daily spirituality,” said Father Greer. “I don't think he ever missed celebrating a Mass or being at Mass while he was a priest.”
Father Greer also remembered Msgr. Delaney’s fraternity with other priests and his promotion of the cause of vocations, particularly in Ireland.
He dedicated a tremendous amount of time to the Irish formation of clergy through All Hallows College, a Catholic seminary for the foreign missions. All Hallows priests were sent to dioceses in America and Australia.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA | FC
Msgr. John Delaney was congratulated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski on his 60th anniversary in the priesthood March 26, 2024, at St. Mary Cathedral during the Chrism Mass. He died June 30, 2025, in Ireland. Msgr. Delaney served the Archdiocese of Miami for more than four decades.
“It really depressed him when the seminary ceased existing (in 2016),” the priest said. He added that Msgr. Delaney worked very hard at the end to do everything he could to keep it going. “But there weren't many seminarians in Ireland at that time.”
In the Archdiocese of Miami, Msgr. Delaney continued to help out in parishes long after his retirement in 2004. He helped Msgr. William Dever at St. Helen Parish in Fort Lauderdale, and Father Greer at Assumption Church for nearly 10 years.
His early assignments included serving as parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception in Hialeah (1964–65), St. Anastasia in Fort Pierce (1965–67), and St. Edward in Palm Beach (1967–71). During that time, he also served as chaplain for the Newman Centers at Indian River Junior College and Palm Beach Junior College.
In June 1971, he was named administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Lake Worth. He became pastor of Holy Family Church in 1974, where he remained until taking medical leave in 1988.
In 1995, Msgr. Delaney began serving at All Hallows College in Dublin, while continuing to assist seasonally at St. Helen Parish. He officially retired in March 2004 but remained active in ministry for many years following retirement.
Funeral Services:
All funeral services will take place in Ireland.
- Viewing will take place at Stafford’s Funeral Home in Portmarnock, Ireland, Friday, July 4, from 3–5 p.m.
- A memorial service will be celebrated Saturday, July 5, at 10 a.m. at the Chapel in All Hallows College, followed by removal to the Church of the Sacred Heart in Crossboyne, County Mayo, where he will repose.
- The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Sunday, July 6, at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Crossboyne Cemetery. A livestream of the Mass will be available via the Taugheen Community Facebook page.
- A special memorial Mass for Msgr. John Delaney will be celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 11 a.m. The Mass will take place at Assumption Parish, 2001 S. Ocean Blvd., Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.
