In lieu of flowers, donations in grateful memory of Father John Murray, C.Ss.R. may be made to the Redemptorists and sent to the Redemptorist Office of Mission Advancement, 3112 7 St NE, Washington, D.C. 20017

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John Francis Murray, C.Ss.R., of the St. John Neumann community at Stella Maris, Timonium, MD, died on December 30, 2025, age 77. Born on July 16, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of James and Kathleen (Gordon). Baptized (August 8, 1948) and confirmed (October 25, 1958) at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, he entered St. Mary's Minor Seminary (1961-1965). He professed first vows on August 2, 1966, and was ordained to the priesthood by Terence Cardinal Cooke on June 17, 1973.

After his ordination, Father Murray served as vocation director (1974-1981), pastor and rector at St. Wenceslaus, Baltimore (1981-1987), pastor and rector of St. Mary's, Annapolis (1987-1993), and rector and director at San Alfonso Retreat House, West End, NJ (1993-1999). From 1999 to 2011 he was coordinator of Redemptorist Missions and a mission/retreat preacher. He was stationed in Brooklyn from 2012 to 2020 when he was transferred to the St. John Neumann Residence in Timonium, MD.

A life-defining moment occurred August 27, 2010, when Father Murray was out for a morning stroll. He accidentally tripped, hit his head, and broke his neck, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. After many months of physical therapy, he was able to drive and become ambulatory again. However, he gradually became confined to a wheelchair. "My wheelchair is my cross," he said. "Paralysis is certainly a major cross, but it also reveals true character."

Though he was physically limited, it did not prevent him from carrying on ministry or evangelization. Even prior to his accident, Father Murray was especially concerned for non-practicing Catholics. He wrote many articles for The Catholic Review and other publications, including Perpetual Help World, for which he was the editor for several years. He opened two homeless shelters—Wenceslaus House in Baltimore and Light House in Annapolis. In the aftermath of his accident, he presented himself as a powerful and thoughtful preacher. He gave a rousing homily before a packed church commemorating the fallen in a post-9/11 Mass at Most Holy Redeemer in lower Manhattan. Rising from his wheelchair to speak directly to the firefighters and police gathered for the occasion, he spoke about how it would be so easy to rail at God for allowing such evil to happen to their comrades and how tempting it would be to seek vengeance. "You have to let these feelings go," he told them, "for the sake of your families, let them go."
Father Murray was tremendously proud of his Irish heritage and enjoyed marching with his father in the St. Patrick's Day parades. He was also interested in Redemptorist history--frequently contributing articles to the Redemptorists' North American Historical Bulletin and refining the Cherished Memories, to which his own entry is now added.

It seems appropriate that the closing words of his obituary come from the writer and preacher Fr. Murray's own pen, from a piece he wrote for The Baltimore Beacon, June 2, 2022:

"I have had an amazing number of years in ministry with the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province. I have served in a wide variety of areas, that includes but is not limited to the formation and education of seminarians, working with the poorest of the poor in the inner cities, and my years at Saint Mary's Catholic Community in Annapolis. I have worked with the people of God preaching Parish Missions and serving in the capacity of Mission Coordinator, and I have been the retreat director at San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch, New Jersey.
[Referring to his accident, he wrote:] "The greatest blessing in all of this has become my understanding of love. My large and strong family has accompanied me. My Redemptorist family, that emphasizes strong family ties, has journeyed with me.

"Now is the time to turn the page to a much quieter form of ministry; preaching, not by what I say or do, but by patiently carrying my cross . . . being a paraplegic. God's Will often comes in the form of the CROSS. I embrace the Cross rather than resist the Cross or complain about the Cross. Even more, I have come to thank God for my cross. I have come to fully understand Psalm 119:71, It was good for me to be afflicted, in order to learn your statutes.'  My suffering is my gift to God. In this life, no matter how long it lasts, it's a momentary affliction preparing me for eternal glory."

May Father John Murray now enjoy eternal glory and rest in peace.

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Visitation Hours
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
3:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
526 59th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11220

Vigil Service
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
7:30 PM LIVESTREAM LINK

Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
526 59th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11220

Visitation
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
526 59th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11220

Funeral Mass
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
10:30 AM LIVESTREAM LINK

Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
526 59th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11220

Cemetery
Resurrection Cemetery
361 Sharrott Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10309