Priesthood
On January 24, 1953, Cummins was ordained a priest by Bishop Hugh Aloysius Donohoe at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. His first assignment was as a curate at Mission Dolores Basilica in San Francisco, where he remained for four years. He also served as chaplain at the Newman Centre of San Francisco State University. He taught at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland from 1957 until 1962, when he became chancellor of the Diocese of Oakland. He was named a domestic prelate in 1963.
In addition to his duties as chancellor, Cummins coordinated the Social Justice and Ecumenical Commissions, and oversaw the diocesan insurance program. He also served as the diocesan liaison to the three Catholic theological schools (Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, Franciscan School of Theology, and Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University) of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Cummins continued to serve as chancellor until 1971, when he was named executive director of the California Catholic Conference. In that capacity, he channeled the functions of the conference by providing liaison with state departments and with the state legislature, disseminating information to Catholic associations and organizations and to other state conferences and the United States Catholic Conference, and coordinating interdiocesan activities in the areas of education and welfare.
Read more about this topic: John Stephen Cummins
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