Fr. John Franck, C.PP.S., 73, died on Wednesday, May 15, 2014, in Los Angeles, Calif. He had been in failing health.

Fr. Franck was born on October 4, 1940, in St. Henry, Ohio. He entered the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1954 and was ordained on June 3, 1967.

Fr. Franck spent most of his life as a priest in parish ministry. After his ordination, he served at St. James the Less Church, Columbus; Holy Name Church, Cincinnati; and St. Veronica Church, Hamilton. In the 1980s, he served in the leadership of his religious Congregation, and he also served the Archdiocese of Cincinnati at St. Joseph’s Orphanage and with other projects.

In 1988, he was named pastor of St. Joseph Church, Wapakoneta, Ohio. Beginning in 1991, he ministered at St. Edward Church in Newark, Calif., then was named co-pastor of St. Agnes Church in Los Angeles.

In 1998, he was appointed pastor of Resurrection Church in Winter Garden, Fla., where he served until his return to St. Agnes in Los Angeles as its pastor in 2001. He continued to minister at St. Agnes until his death.

He is survived by two brothers, Fr. James Franck, C.PP.S., Newark, Calif.; and Richard and Mary Franck, St. Henry, Ohio; two sisters, Mary and William Borger, Tipp City, Ohio; and Dianne Corbin, Indianapolis; and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Fr. John Franck brought many gifts to his ministry, said his brother, Fr. James Franck. He was a compassionate pastor who was also good with the administrative side of parish life. He was both musical and artistic. “He designed a lot of the decorations that are still in use at St. Agnes,” Fr. Jim said. He was also a good athlete; the two brothers enjoyed time on the golf course together.

People of all ages and walks of life felt connected to him in the large and culturally diverse St. Agnes parish, Fr. Jim said. In the last days of his life, Fr. Jim visited him at St. Agnes, “and I couldn’t walk two steps without someone asking how he was doing.” On the same day that Fr. John took a call from Cardinal Roger Mahoney, a little girl who is an alter server at the parish asked Fr. Jim to let Fr. John know she was praying for him.

“It was impressive to see all the people who were concerned about him,” Fr. Jim said.

Fr. John Franck’s memory was honored with a funeral mass at St. Agnes on Monday, May 19. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio, on May 22, with Fr. James Franck presiding and preaching. Burial was in the Community cemetery.

Text: Jean Giesige, Cincinnati Province
Photo: Bro. Juan Acuña, CPPS.