FATHER GREGORY COIRO, OFM Cap.
IN MEMORIAM
1953 - 2016
Rector of the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, 2010-2013
Dear Brothers, Sisters, Family and Friends of the Shrine: Capuchin FR. GREGORY COIRO died peacefully Friday morning, September 9th, at "Coming Home Hospice" in San Francisco, CA. Please pray for the repose of his soul and the consolation of his dear family, especially his beloved mother Terry.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation
in memory of Fr. Gregory Coiro to the
Capuchin Franciscan Foundation for Retired Friars
1345 Cortez Avenue
Burlingame, CA 94010.
Obituary for Fr. Gregory Louis Coiro, OFMCap
Fr. Gregory Coiro was born on January 29, 1953 in Long Island, New York, the son of Anthony D. Coiro and Theresa M. Friedel Shelby. He entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order on August, 15, 1972 and made his perpetual profession of vows on September 22, 1979. He was ordained a priest at St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco on May 15, 1982. After ordination he was assigned as Associate Pastor at St. Joseph Church in Roseburg, OR. He was a teacher at St. Francis High School in La Cañada-Flintridge, CA from 1982-1990. He served in the Office of Public Affairs for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Media Relations. He was Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame, CA. He then was chaplain for St. Francis High School in La Cañada-Flintridge in 2002. He became Rector of the National Shrine of St. Francis in San Francisco, CA in 2010 and served until 2013. He then retired because of health issues. He died from renal failure at Coming Home Hospice in San Francisco, CA on September 9, 2016.
Fr. Greg was brilliant and had a sharp wit. He was a wonderful organist and loved classical music and old hymns. He loved to teach and helped start the Kairos High School Retreats at St. Francis High School. He was excellent in media relations for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He loved his faith and he had a wonderful ability of defending and explaining the Church's teaching. He touched many hearts.
He is survived by his dear mother Theresa M. Friedel Shelby and his brother and sisters: Anthony Coiro, Tracy Tinder, Dana Covellone and Jennifer Bravo. He is also survived by many nephews and nieces.
Fr. Gregory's funeral arrangements are as follows: Vigil is Tuesday September 13, 2016 at 7:00 pm at St. Bede the Venerable Church, 215 Foothill Blvd, La Cañada-Flintridge CA 91011. Mass of Christian Burial is Wednesday September 14, 2016 at 10 am also at St. Bede the Venerable Church. Burial is at 10:00 am on Thursday September 15, 2016 at San Lorenzo Friary in Santa Ynez, CA 93460.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in memory of Fr. Gregory Coiro to the Capuchin Franciscan Foundation for Retired Friars, 1345 Cortez Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010.
Note: the above Feast schedule is in addition to the regular Shrine Mass schedule:
Mon. to Sat.: 12:15 pm Mass
Confessions-Sataurday: 11 am to 12:00 pm
Sunday – 11:00 am Mass.
Welcome to the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi and the namesake of our city, San Francisco. The National Shrine is the property of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and it consists of our historic Church built in 1849 and our beautiful Chapel (La Porziuncola Nuova, or Little Portion) built in 2008.
The National Shrine is not only located in the heart of San Francisco where Italian North Beach and Chinatown meet, it is "The Heart of San Francisco" in a singular way where Heaven and Earth meet like no other place in our city.
One of the reasons this Shrine is unique is its very urban location in the second most densely populated city in the country. But in the midst of an often rowdy, noisy, bawdy, and chaotic neighborhood (a bronze marker in the sidewalk reminds us that this was once "The Barbary Coast"), the Shrine's Church and the Porziuncola offer an oasis of peace, quiet, serenity, and refreshment to the thirsty spirit.
Saint Francis was very aware that all of God's creation is holy and that it reflects his beauty, truth, and goodness. But Francis appreciated churches, especially, because he knew that in these sacred spaces people could find and recognize the presence of God's spirit more easily than "in the world." That is why the Little Poor Man of Assisi dedicated a good portion of his life to rebuilding old abandoned churches, like San Damiano (where he had heard the voice of Jesus Christ) and Saint Mary of the Angels Porziuncola (or Little Portion).
We hope during your online visit to The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi you will experience something of the reverence, tranquility, and blessings people find when they enter our actual doors. Thus, we invite you to take the virtual tours, light a candle, ask for our prayers, and to return to this site as often as you like, while allowing "The Heart of San Francisco" to become a place where your own heart can find a haven of rest. Yes, leave your heart in San Francisco!
We also invite you to take the opportunity to participate in the mission of The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi by sharing with us your financial support, either by making a donation or by shopping at our online store. But even if you're unable to give anything at this time, please know that you are always welcome to visit us and to support our work with your prayers. We sincerely appreciate and thank you for your generosity of spirit.
The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi, as with The Archdiocese of San Francisco, has a mission that is rooted in the Gospels and the social teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Central to that teaching is the inherent dignity and sacredness of each human being.
We educate and advocate on this dignity in relation to the unborn child, the prisoner on death row, the homeless and hungry person on our streets, the elderly, the ill and disabled faced with the threat of assisted suicide, the stranger in our midst, and the poor and marginalized in our society and throughout the world. We are neither right nor left, Republican nor Democrat, but we formulate our agenda by the standard of human dignity that is reflected in our faith tradition.
- It is the purpose of the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi to provide more abundant means of salvation, through the rich liturgical and devotional life of the Roman Catholic Church for the Christian faithful, including those who come as pilgrims from around the world to the City of San Francisco and the greater San Francisco Bay Area, who seek to encounter the living God through religious worship and special devotion to St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan saints.
- It is the further purpose of the National Shrine to welcome, share and extend this same spiritual experience and devotion to St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan saints to pilgrims and visitors of all faiths, religions, denominations, and nationalities.
- The Capuchin Franciscan Friars (OFM Cap.) and Staff of the National Shrine, therefore, provide a pastoral (i.e., welcoming and prayerful) environment with the hope that in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, spiritual nourishment healing and reconciliation will be found by all who visit the Shrine.
ADDITIONAL PAPAL VISIT TO ASSISI
ROME- Pope Francis will head back to the Italian town of Assisi on Sept. 20 to participate in the closing of a World Day of Prayer for Peace, called "Thirst for peace. Religions and culture in dialogue," and organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio.
The visit will be the second pilgrimage by the pope to the birthplace of St. Francis in less than two months, as he was also there on August 4, when he paid an afternoon visit to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, home of the Portiuncola, a small chapel restored by the legendary medieval saint in the 1200s.
The Vatican confirmed the pope's decision to participate through a short statement released on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 18. The Franciscan family in Assisi had first shared the pontiff's intention to come earlier in the week, and confirmed it through a post on their website hours before the Holy See.
"It's a great joy for the Franciscan family," said Father Mauro Gambetti, custodian of the Assisi friary. Among the 400 delegates expected to participate in the Sant'Egidio event will be religious, political and social leaders from a variety of backgrounds, together with representatives from the world of culture. The VIP list includes Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
The "Thirst for Peace" encounter will run on Sept. 18-20, and it marks the 30th anniversary of St. Pope John Paul II's invitation to the world's religious leaders to join him in a prayer for peace back in 1986. This year's edition is being organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio together with the Diocese of Assisi and the Franciscan Family.
HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS
Please remember Pope Francis' intentions in prayer through the month of September:
- Universal: Centrality of the Human Person
That each may contribute to the common good and to the building of a society that places the human person at the center. - Evangelization: Mission to Evangelize
That by participating in the Sacraments and meditating on Scripture, Christians may become more aware of their mission to evangelize.
