McCune, Rev. James L.

Rev. James L. McCune, 79, of Boston, formerly of Canton, passed away December 7 at Mass General Hospital.

Born in New York City on October 1, 1932, he is the only child of the late Herman and Stella (Sweeney) McCune. His parents were both Rhode Island natives, and the small but close family moved to Boston while James was still young. He graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas School in Jamaica Plain and Boston College High School, then entered the archdiocesan seminaries at Cardinal O’Connell, Jamaica Plain, and continued at St. Clement Hall in Brighton and then at the theology department at St. John’s, also in Brighton.

Archbishop Richard Cushing ordained him at Holy Cross Cathedral on February 3, 1958. He had two assignments as an assistant: immediately following ordination at St. Paul in Wellesley (1958-1965) and then back to very familiar territory at Blessed Sacrament in Jamaica Plain (1965-1973).

Shortly after he was named a cardinal by Pope Paul VI, Humberto Sousa Medeiros plucked Father McCune from parish life and on April 10, 1973, named him secretary and master of ceremonies, a position he held for almost ten years. During his years as secretary to the cardinal, he became a familiar face at archdiocesan ceremonies and events. Perhaps no more widely publicized an event was his involvement with the papal visit of Pope John Paul II to Boston in October 1979. During this time, many, especially priests, came to see the effect of Father McCune, whose mild manner and measured and considered response to almost any question or dilemma was welcomed and readily received. His is that rare gift of being able to say “no” in such a way that you are as grateful for the “no” as you would have been for the “yes.”

In 1983 the cardinal named him pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Canton, where he served until 2000. In Canton he showed an amazing facility with people’s names and recalling family connections and relationships. Any time he met a member of the parish, he would greet them by name, ask about family members, by name, and even ask about folks in the particular neighborhood.

After leaving St. John’s, Cardinal Law named him the director of the Office of Senior Priests, where he served until 2010. In that office he has been praised for his attention to the physical, spiritual, emotional and psychological needs of the more than 250 senior priests in his charge. His patience and calm character, mixed with a great wit and ability to get “one of the brothers” to cooperate where others could not, has won him high and deserved praise. Always able to read the “sign of the times,” he knew that it was time for him to hand on the duties to another. After stepping down as director in 2010, he continued to serve as chaplain of the senior priests from 2010 to the present.

A concelebrated funeral mass was held Tuesday, December 13, in St. John the Evangelist Church in Canton. His Eminence Cardinal Sean O’Malley was the principal celebrant. Burial St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket, RI. Donations may be made in his memory to Regina Cleri Residence, 60 William Cardinal O’Connell Way, Boston, MA 02114.

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