SAN DIEGO — A legendary priest at the San Diego Catholic Diocese, Father Richard Brown, SJ, passed away early this morning at the retirement center where he lived in Northern California. He was 93 years old and died of natural causes.
He was a legend particularly among Latino Catholics, whom he served for 37 years as a priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Barrio Logan. Those decades were formative years for the neighborhood and its community members, many of whom still consider the parish as their spiritual home. Father Brown was a champion of social justice causes and education, frequently adding the moral voice to community meetings.
Though he retired in 2005, he continued to be active in the community, including giving daily Masses until about two years ago.
In March of 2018, Father Brown moved to Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, in Los Gatos, a home for retired priests in the Jesuit West Province.
His former parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe, plans to hold a memorial Mass for Father Brown at a later date, when health orders permit such gatherings.
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