Date of death: 7/14/2010

Saint Meinrad Class: O 1954

Monsignor Clifton Corcoran, the oldest priest in the Diocese of Amarillo who served parishes in the Texas Panhandle/South Plains for 34 years, passed away after a lengthy illness. He was 93 years old. Clifton Joseph Patrick Corcoran was born June 23, 1917, in the Bronx, N.Y., the son of Patrick R. and Elizabeth Greene Corcoran. He graduated from Quincy High School in Quincy, Mass., in 1935. After serving his country in the U.S. Army during World War II, Corcoran attended Our Lady Seminary College in Northeaston, Mass., and Saint Meinrad College and School of Theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1954, by Bishop Eric McKenzie in Newton, Mass., and celebrated his first Mass on the Feast of the Pentecost, June 6, 1954, in St. Mary’s Church in West Quincy, Mass. His first assignment was at Sacred Heart Cathedral in downtown Amarillo. His other assignments included St. Anthony of Padua, Dalhart (1954-1955); Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Groom and St. Mary’s Church, Clarendon ( 1955-1959); St. Josephs Church, Amarillo (1959-1960); Immaculate Conception Church, Muleshoe; St Peter’s Church, Olton; Sacred Heart Church, Littlefield and St. Mary Magdalene Church, Earth (1960-1966); Immaculate Conception Church, Vega (1966- 1969); St. Phillip Neri Church, Pep (1969-1970); Sacred Heart Church, Petersburg and its mission, St. Isidore’s Church, Abernathy (1970-1979); St. Francis of Assisi Church, St. Francis ( 1980-1983); St. Ann’s Church, Bovina and St. Teresa’s Church, Friona (1983). His final assignment was at Sacred Heart Church, White Deer, where he was granted retirement on Feb. 12, 1988. He was named a Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II in July 1985, with the title of Monsignor, which was presented to him on Sept. 1 at Holy Family Chapel in the Bishop DeFalco Retreat Center. Corky quote “He was a true Yankee from the Boston area. He knew more statistics about baseball than anyone I ever knew. He was very adamant when defending his Yankee origins. And from one Yankee to another: Requiescat in Pacem. In a letter that outlined his final wishes that was found in his personnel file on the day he died, Monsignor Corcoran offered these thoughts: “May the Good God be merciful to Clifton Joseph Patrick Corcoran, who attempted during the short pilgrimage to Heaven to live Jesus Christ’s Gospel – especially the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:67) and Jesus’ homily to the Priests for all time (Matt 10). May yours truly beg all the people to often read John 17 – Jesus Christ’s Prayer for Priests – for many times your writer failed to live the life of Christ fully. Goodbye – May God be with each and everyone. Oremus Pro invicem simper. May we all meet in Heaven. Deo Voluntati. He is survived by a sister, Rita Corcoran of Quincy.Information obtained from the Amarillo Globe-News online.