The Reverend Michael Burns, a retired priest of the Diocese of San Jose, died peacefully at Stanford Hospital on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. He was 90 years old.
Born on August 22, 1931 in Oakland to Michael J. Burns and Sarah Curran, Father Burns attended St. Joseph’s School in Alameda and St. Joseph’s College in Mountain View. In 1952 he entered St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Merlin Guilfoyle on June 14, 1958 at St. Mary’s Cathedral for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
Father Burns’ first assignment was parochial vicar at St. Rose Parish in Santa Rosa. This was followed by assignments at St. Elizabeth Parish in San Francisco, Sacred Heart Parish in San Jose, the Church of the Resurrection in Sunnyvale and Visitacion Church in San Francisco. In 1979, he was appointed pastor of Santa Teresa Church in San Jose. Upon the creation of the Diocese of San Jose in 1981, Father Burns remained in the new Diocese. In 1985 he was appointed to St. Mary’s Parish in Los Gatos as associate pastor. On April 1, 1989 he was appointed administrator of St. William Parish in Los Altos. He eventually became pastor of St. William Parish in 1992. He retired from there on June 30, 2004. Upon retirement, he moved into the rectory of St. Simon Parish until his death.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Father Burns will be held at 11 a.m. on June 14, 2022 at St. Simon Church in Los Altos.
Eternal rest grant unto Father Michael Burns, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.