Deceased: 2003-03-31
Diocese: ARLINGTON
Seminary Graduation Year: 1937
Monsignor Francis L Bradican, 92, formerly of Annandale, Va., died March 31, 2003 at St Mary’s Villa Nursing Home, Elmhurst. Born 7 Feb 1911 in Dunmore, son of the late William and Anna Moran Bradican; Dunmore High School; St Charles Seminary, Catonsville, MD; the American College, University of Louvain, Belgium; and the North American College, Gregorian University, Rome. Ordained in Rome 19 Dec 1936, three months earlier than his class. Because he was in poor health and not expected to live long, he was sent home to Dunmore. After regaining his health, went to serve the Diocese of Richmond and Arlington in Virginia for more than 65 years. A Mass of Thanksgiving marking the 65th anniversary of his ordination was celebrated 19 Dec 2001.
First assignment was St Elizabeth Parish, Colonial Beach, VA, and the missions of Kilmarnock and The Hague during the summer of 1937. His first permanent appointment was at St Joseph Parish, Martinsburg, WV, from 1937 to 1940. From 1940 to 1945, he served at Holy Trinity Parish, Norfolk, VA. 1945-1951, assistant pastor at St Joseph Parish, Petersburg, VA. After six months as administrator at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Norfolk in 1951, he was appointed pastor of Holy Angels Parish, Craddock, Va., near Portsmouth, in 1952. While at Holy Angels, he oversaw the building of a parish school. In 1959, he became founding pastor of St. Bernadette Parish, Springfield, Va., and oversaw construction of the school and rectory.
He traveled throughout Ireland looking for an order of teaching sisters to staff the school and secured the Daughters of Wisdom for the task. In 1987, the parish named a multipurpose room in the parish center for him in honor of his contributions. He was transferred to St. Rita’s Parish in Alexandria, Va., in 1972. Near the end of his 14 years at St. Rita’s, he was named a monsignor on his 75th birthday in 1986. He was invested March 24 at St. Rita’s Church. In June 1986, he retired and took up residence at Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale. A yearlong celebration of his golden jubilee culminated in a Mass on Nov. 22, 1986. He continued to celebrate Mass at Holy Spirit Parish after his 91st birthday.
Surviving are nieces and nephews, including attorney Alfred Weinschenk, Clarks Green; Frank Weinschenk, Dunmore; Clare Egan, Scranton; Paul Bradican, Bluffton, S.C; and William Egan, Elmhurst. He was preceded in death by six brothers, Joseph, William, Richard, Peter, Harold and Albert; and three sisters, Mary Davitt, Anna Taylor and Florence Weinschenk.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday at 10:30 a.m. in Holy Spirit Church, Annandale. Interment, 1 p.m. at Fairfax Memorial Park. Reception of the body and a vigil service will be Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. in Holy Spirit Church, 8800 Bradock Road, Annandale. A memorial Mass will be celebrated in the Scranton area at the convenience of family. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Villa, 675 St. Mary’s Villa Road, Moscow, 18444. Arrangements, Murphy Funeral Homes, 4510 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. Local arrangements, Jennings-Calvey Funeral Home, 111 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit, 18411. ~Scranton (PA) Times-Tribune, Wed 2 Apr 2003
