Deceased: 2012-05-31
Diocese: SAN DIEGO
CSM Graduation Year: 1975
Monsignor Sean Joseph Murray, age 88, died May 31, 2012, at Nazareth House in San Diego. Eldest son of John and Winifred Murray, he was born in 1924 in Portumna, County Galway, Ireland, and he remained a life-long Irish citizen. His early schooling was in Partumna prior to attending Carmelite College in Castlemartyr, County Cork for high school. He completed his college-level priestly formation at Mount Melleray Junior Seminary, at Waterford, Ireland, between 1945 and 1947. He continued his seminary training at All Hallows Major Seminary in Dublin from 1947 to 1952, where he was incardinated into the Diocese of San Diego in 1949. He was ordained in 1952, by Bishop Fergus of Anchonry, Ireland, for San Diego. Father Murray’s first brief assignment was as assistant pastor at Holy Rosary in San Bernardino, before moving to Most Precious Blood in Banning, to serve as assistant pastor from 1952 to 1954. He was named assistant pastor at St. Mary in National City in 1954, and served there until 1960. His first assignment as pastor was at St. Joseph in Holtville, where he ministered from 1960 to 1965. Father Murray then moved to St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Sun City, acting as pastor from 1965 to 1968. He was made pastor at St. Michael in San Diego in 1968, remaining there until 1972. He served as diocesan director of the Holy Name Society beginning in 1969, and was honored with the title of monsignor in 1970. From 1972 to 1984, Monsignor Murray held the role of pastor of St. Therese in San Carlos neighborhood, San Diego. During that period, he also served a term as head of the University deanery. His final assignment was as pastor of St. Brigid in Pacific Beach, where he began serving in 1984 until his retirement in 1996. While there, he fulfilled a term as dean of the La Jolla deanery. Monsignor Murray resided at St. Brigid as Pastor Emeritus from his retirement until 2007, when he moved to Nazareth House. He remained there until his death. The Viewing will be on Wednesday, June 6th, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Pacific Beach Mortuary, 4710 Cass Street, San Diego. The Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, June 7th, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Brigid Church, 4735 Cass Street, San Diego. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.
