Monsignor Barry J. William

Born: April 21, 1919 in Akron, Ohio Ordained a Priest: May 28,1944

Appointed Pastor of OLA: August 3, 1963 Actively Retired: August 1, 1994

Died: March 18, 2007

“I have had a fabulous life,” Monsignor William J. Barry once said with all the enthusiasm, expansive gratitude, and humorous exaggeration that were his hallmark. The popular pastor and community leader, who retired in 1994 after shepherding the Catholic community of Our Lady of the Assumption in Claremont for 31 years, died quietly overnight at his Newport Beach house on March 18 at the age of 87 years. Monsignor Barry leaves behind two families: the one he grew up with and cherished in private moments away from his official responsibilities, and the thriving, growing Catholic parish he called “The OLA Family.” He was the middle of five brothers –Bob, Dave, Bill, Ted and Jack – who were raised by their aunt, Bess Scotton, and grew up with her daughter, Betty Wright. He is survived by one brother, David Barry, two-sisters-in-law, Mary and Lorna Barry, as well as numerous nieces/nephews and grandnieces/nephews whom he baptized and influenced greatly. The Catholic community that has now grown to 4,700 families from the 1,200 he first met in 1963 still bears the stamp of his legendary hospitality, compassion for those in need, commitment to education, and joyful celebration of God’s presence. Throughout his priestly life, Msgr. Barry also enjoyed universal respect among his fellow clergy within the Catholic Church, and among religious leaders of other faiths and Christian traditions in Southern California. Friend to both the powerful and the poor who felt his positive impact, he was honored at last December’s City of Angel’s Christmas Gala hosted by Catholic Charities of Los Angeles for his many years of service for that organization as well as the Cardinal McIntyre Fund for Charity and the Campaign for Human Development. Among his many offices, he was elected the first president of the Senate of Priests of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and president of the Inter-religious Council of Southern California that provided services for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. In 1988, Monsignor Barry was honored by Pope John Paul II with the title of Protonotary Apostolic.

The funeral Mass for Monsignor William J. Barry, pastor emeritus at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, will be Friday, March 23 at 11 a.m. with Cardinal Roger Mahony presiding. The church is located at 435 Berkeley Ave. in Claremont. A reception on the lawn will follow the service. A Rosary Vigil is planned from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22, followed by a Vietnamese prayer service, and then all-night visitation in the church. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for visitation before the vigil. In addition, a Memorial Mass will be celebrated Monday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the church followed by a reception in the parish auditorium. Friends are asked to make donations in memory of Msgr. Barry to Catholic Charities of Los Angeles or the Building Fund at Our Lady of the Assumption Church.