John F. Burns

Boston - Rev. John F. Burns, of the Regina Cleri Residence in Boston, died Saturday, July 9, 2011 in his residence. He was 89.

Father Burns was born in Jamaica Plain on May 16, 1922, a son of the late John E. and Winifred (Frazer) Burns. He attended Holy Cross College in Worcester and then served with the United States Navy. He was ordained a priest on May 6, 1948 from Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton.

Father Burns’ assignments included St. Killian’s Church in New Bedford, Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church in Waltham, Saint Mary’s Church in Franklin, Saint Ann’s Church in Kingston, Jamaica and the British West Indies, Saint Margaret’s Church in Lowell, Sacred Heart Church in Bremerhaven, Germany, Saint Joseph’s Church in East Boston, Saint Ann’s Church in Somerville, Saint Patrick’s Church in Roxbury, Saint Joseph’s Church in Quincy, Saint John’s Church in Canton, Saint Adelaide’s Church in West Peabody, Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Newton and Saint Charles Borromeo Church in Waltham.

He was the chaplain at the former Metropolitan State Hospital in Waltham, a teacher-chaplain at the Boyhaven School in West Newbury, and a chaplain at the Civil Air Patrol in Norwood. Father Burns was a weekly columnist and northeast correspondent for ‘Twin Circle’, a west coast Catholic newspaper, from 1974 to 1978.

He was the brother of the late Eugene P. Burns and Richard J. Burns and is survived by several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Father Burns’ life by gathering for calling hours in the Regina Cleri Residence, 60 William Cardinal O’Connell Way, Boston on Thursday, July 14th, from 2 to 4 p.m. and again on Friday morning from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. in Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham, where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, West Roxbury.