Bishop Brennan Leads Funeral Mass For Monsignor John E. Delendick, Beloved Priest, FDNY Chaplain

The funeral Mass was attended by hundreds of firefighters from the Fire Department of New York and other jurisdictions, dozens of priests, Brooklyn Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio, and Archbishop Charles Balvo, the Apostolic Nuncio (Pope’s representative) to Australia and classmate of Monsignor Delendick.

FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh was among those who offered remarks about Monsignor Delendick’s service to the Department. FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens and former Commissioners Daniel Nigro and Salvatore Cassano were also in attendance. Monsignor Richard Ahlemeyer, Pastor of St. Camillus – St. Virgilius in the Rockaway Park section of Queens, offered a moving tribute in his Homily.

74-year-old Monsignor John E. Delendick passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2023, after a long battle with 9/11-related cancer due to his time at Ground Zero responding as a New York City Fire Department Chaplain in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Monsignor Delendick has served as a Chaplain for the FDNY since 1996.

“Monsignor John Delendick led an incredible life of service to God and His people. Throughout his 40 years as a parish priest and administrator in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Monsignor Delendick brought God's faith to countless individuals' hearts and minds. He truly was a disciple of the Lord, caring, loving, and praying for the people he encountered in the best and worst times. May he now receive his eternal reward for his goodness,” said Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn.

Born on September 4, 1949, Monsignor Delendick was ordained to the Priesthood on February 12, 1977. In his more than 40 years as a priest, he served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of the Shrine of Saint Jude (Brooklyn), the Parishes of Saint Agnes and Sacred Heart Chapel (Brooklyn), and Saint Michael (Brooklyn).

Monsignor Delendick also served as Administrator of the Parishes of Saint Ann and Saint George (Brooklyn) and as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of Good Shepherd (Brooklyn) and Saint Catherine of Genoa (Brooklyn). Monsignor Delendick was also a Diocesan Real Estate Board Member, a professor at the Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary, and a Priests’ Purgatorial Society member.

On February 8, 2003, Monsignor Delendick was named Chaplain of His Holiness.