SAN DIEGO — Msgr. William Cuddihy, a retired priest of the Diocese of San Diego, died Jan. 14 after a long illness. He was 90.
He was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, where he studied for the priesthood and was ordained on June 3, 1956, at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
After a few assignments as an assistant pastor, Msgr. Cuddihy was appointed pastor of St. Madeleine Sophie Parish in Trona, Calif., which was then part of the Diocese of San Diego, serving there from 1965 to 1968. He later served as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Ramona (1968-1970); St. Patrick’s, Carlsbad (1970-1973); St. Louise de Marillac, Crest (1973-1977); Our Lady of Refuge, San Diego (1977-1981); and St. Catherine Laboure, San Diego (1981-1999).
He was the founding pastor of Our Lady of Refuge Parish.
Msgr. Cuddihy, who was made a monsignor in 1985, retired from active ministry on July 1, 1999.
In a message to the diocese’s priests on Jan. 15, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy recalled Msgr. Cuddihy as “a splendid member of that band of Irish priests who came to San Diego to share their faith and lives with the people of our local Church.”
The funeral Mass for Msgr. Cuddihy was celebrated Jan. 25 at San Rafael Parish in Rancho Bernardo.
