Diocese loses two longtime priests
The deaths of the Rev. William Dougherty and the Rev. Gerald Cote have deprived the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson of two priests in a few days.
On Wednesday, Feb. 24, Dougherty, once the pastor of St. Cyril of Alexandria Church, died at age 85. Then on Saturday, Feb. 27, Cote, 87, died. Cote served in parishes throughout Southern Arizona and Phoenix for about 60 years, including as pastor at Holy Family Catholic Church.
In his weekly “Monday Memo” newsletter, Bishop Gerald Kicanas mentioned the mens’ deaths, writing that “Father Bill spent his ministry working on behalf of others, even long into his retirement.”
Dougherty, a member of the Paulist Fathers, was the last of that order in the Tucson diocese, which he joined in 1986. Most recently, Dougherty served at St. Pius X Catholic Church for more than 10 years.
“His interpretation of the Gospel and his preaching were of the highest degree of spirituality, and yet down to earth and made an impact on people’s lives,” said the Rev. Harry Ledwith, St. Pius X pastor. “He was like a stand-up comedian. He brought laughter and was hospitable and was just a treasury of jokes.”
Cote “spoke of how his favorite work had been at a poor parish, Holy Family, in downtown Tucson where he and the congregation worked together to bring worship and song together in Mass — times he called the happiest parts of his ministry,” Kicanas wrote. “He played the accordion and the harmonica, even several harmonicas at once. His music brought many into the church.”
Holy Family Catholic Church, 338 W. University Blvd., will host visitation at 4 p.m., the rosary at 6 p.m. and the funeral Mass at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 5.
First Church of Christ, Scientist hosts talk
The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Tucson will host a talk titled “The Healing Power of Love” 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Murphy-Wilmot Libray, 530 N. Wilmot Road. Child care will be provided. The talk will be by Maryl Walters of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship.
