Msgr. Jim Memorial Page

James Joseph Loughnane was the oldest of thirteen children born to Michael and Bridget (Cummins) Loughnane in Monivea County Galway, Ireland. His family operated a carpentry and joinery business established in 1786 that goes back at least five generations. At age five, Jim headed off for the local school, which led him to St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam, County Galway and eventually to All Hallows Seminary in Dublin. He was ordained with thirty-seven classmates on June 18, 1961. Six weeks later he arrived in Los Angeles with three classmates to begin ministry in this Archdiocese, beginning at St. John the Baptist de la Salle, Granada Hills.

Fr. Jim was transferred to St. Cornelius in Long Beach. There was no Open Placement process, just a letter of appointment and one week to report for duty. In March 1971, a young and growing community emerged and he moved to St. Bonaventure, Huntington Beach. In 1975, Fr. Loughnane was transferred back to Long Beach; to St. Barnabas. In 1976, he was appointed Judge in the Archdiocesan Matrimonial Tribunal and became a member of the Canon Law Society of America. He became the administrator of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Canoga Park in 1981 where he became the pastor, a position he held until March 1993. In June 1988, Fr. Loughnane was appointed Domestic Prelate to His Holiness Pope John Paul II and given the title Monsignor. In 1993, Cardinal Roger Mahony asked him to pastor the growing community of St. Denis, Diamond Bar, upon the retirement of the founding pastor, Fr. Donald Potthoff.  Monsignor Jim lovingly called Diamond Bar his home and did not think of retiring.  He continued to serve our parish until his passing on September 17, 2018. 

Msgr. Jim was always there for his brother priests all over the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.  He took his duty seriously, loved his parishioners, and worked tirelessly for many Archdiocesan Boards and Committees.  He was the Deanery representative of the Priests’ Council, Vicar Forane (Dean) of Deanery 12, Board of Consulters, Young Adult Advisory Board, PACE (Pastor Advisory Committee on Education) and the Catholic School Board. He served as a member of the original Committee for the “Together in Mission” Annual Appeal. Msgr. Jim also worked with the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council and other Ecumenical programs.  He was a member of Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral Advisory Committee and a member of the Finance Sub-Committee for the Cathedral. He is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. For six terms he served as Chairman of the Clergy Personnel Board.  Cardinal Roger Mahony wrote “This confidence placed in you by your brother priests is the highest recognition of your many gifts and talents.” (letter to Msgr. Jim on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee, June 18, 2011)

In 2003, Msgr. Jim mirrored Cardinal Roger Mahony’s Pastor’s Leadership Award where he asked our parishioners to help identify individuals that have made a significant impact in our Community. March 2, 2019 marks our 17^th Annual event. 

In November 2005, Pope Benedict XVI honored him with the title Protonotary Apostolic, the highest order of Monsignor outside of Rome.  In January 4, 2012, Msgr. Jim was appointed by Archbishop Jose Gomez as the Episcopal Vicar of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region, he held this position until September 2015.  Bishop Joseph Sartoris wrote, “that I can think of no other priest in the Archdiocese who is as widely respected and admired in the Archdiocese as is Msgr. Jim.” (letter to Msgr. Jim on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee, June 18, 2011)

From his nephew and niece, Vince and Deirdre, here in Southern California he was always a loving and fun Uncle Jim, “UJ” as they called him.  He always made the special trips to every part of the world to celebrate First Communions, Confirmations, Graduations, Marriages and all of their milestones at a moment’s notice.  “Uncle Jim” was a smart man with a very strong work ethic.  He didn’t go out of his way to be liked, he was too shy and reserved for that.  Instead, he rolled up his sleeves, took on the difficult jobs without fanfare, and people came to love him over time.  We were very fortunate to have him in our lives.  He is survived by four brothers and three sisters, their spouses, 17 nieces and nephews, and 25 grandnieces and grandnephews. 

With the hopes of accommodating the growing needs for the many ministries and organizations at St. Denis, Msgr. Jim was in the midst of realizing the building of a new parish center. The Building on Faith Campaign is near and dear to his heart and gives witness to his faith in God’s providence and the St. Denis Community’s response to the call.  Msgr. Jim’s parish family at St. Denis and the Loughnane families will miss him dearly.  We will remember him as a man, a brother priest, an uncle, and friend who humbly served Jesus, our Church, and our Archdiocese.   May God Love You Msgr. Jim. 

View Collection of Special Photos submitted by Family, Friends & St Denis Parishioners
 

We love you Monsignor Jim and we will miss our Sunday hugs after Mass.
-Sprock Family
Tue, Sep 25, 2018

Hello,
My name is Leslie Cardoza, my family and I have been attending st Denis since I could remember. I was an altar server until I graduated high school in 2007. I will always remember Msgr Jim as a man who never forgot anyone’s name and a true Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan. Growing up a USC fan, Msgr and I would always talk football and he never forget to let me know when Norte Dame would win that year. I remember one year trying to hide from him and he followed me out of church to remind me who won the day before. I’m truly going to a miss him..he was a true man of God and live his life for him everyday. 

Thank you
Leslie
Mon, Sep 24, 2018

To St. Denis Parish,
We feel very blessed that Msgr. Jim was an important part of our family’s sacraments, from our matrimony to our children’s baptisms.

Rest In Peace and God love you, Msgr. Jim.

Our deepest gratitude and condolences,
The Ruidera family (Irene, Julius, Kyla, and Liam)
Mon, Sep 24, 2018

Msgr. Jim, was a Pastor with great affection for the St. Denis Catholic Community.  He had a Christ-like disposition, as an all to all person for others in His ministry as Pastor in teaching minds, touching hearts, and transforming lives.  He was God’s instrument way ahead of his time.  In his network of creating possibilities, he was sought for his words of wisdom, as he reached out in service of others for the least, the last, and the lost.  He touched base with the Kundirana Music Ministry in the Philippines and supported Bahay Pag-asa (House of Hope for the Transformation of Children in Conflict with the Law).

I was very privileged, with several De La Salle Brothers, to be friends of Msgr. Jim.  He is now with our Lord where “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined, the things that God has prepared for those who love Him – 1 Corinthians 2:9” 

We now have a new angel and saint, to be our intercessor to a very caring God.  Thank you, Msgr. Jim.  Till we meet you again, in God’s heavenly abode!

   Br. Gus L. Boquer FSC
   Brother President & Chancellor
   De La Salle University-Dasmariñas
   De La Salle Health Sciences Institute

Mon, Sep 24, 2018

God has you in his arms, we have you in our Hearts
-The Carrillo Family-
Sun, Sep 23, 2018

I would like to share a brief message below about Monsignor:

“Monsignor was more than a religious figure to us. He was a mentor and a second grandpa to my family and I. He’s been there through our greatest life achievements, challenges, and monumental life events. Some may say he was serious, but to us he was always playful and loving. He can never be replaced but through his hard religious diligence his memory and legacy will live on. We love him very much and will miss his warm greetings, hugs, and special blessings after mass. His spirit will help guide us forever!”

Thank you,
Stefanie Bartra
Thu, Sep 20, 2018

Memories I was a parishioner for 15 years at St Denis and am very sad to hear of his passing. I moved to Florida 2 years ago and I visited St Denis this past May the last time I saw Monsignor. So sorry.

June Braden
Thu, Sep 20, 2018

WE ARE VERY GRIEVED TO HEAR OF MSGR”S PASSING.  MAY HE REST IN PEACE IN GOD’S ARMS.  WE WILL PRAY FOR HIM.  LOVE,  THE SHORTS
– JOHN AND SHERRY
Thu, Sep 20, 2018

Msgr. Jim Loughnane:  “Servant of All”
Homily on Sunday, September 23, 2018 by Fr. John Palmer
 

In today’s Gospel (Mark 9:30-37), Jesus tells his disciples about the Passion that he will endure.  Specifically, Jesus says that he will be handed over to men, who will kill him; and then in three days he will rise.  After hearing Jesus describe his Passion and death, the disciples surprisingly express no concern about what he will endure; and they seemingly have no empathy for him.  Instead, they argue among themselves about who is the greatest.  In their self-centeredness, they completely ignore what will happen to Jesus, and focus only on themselves.

We may shake our heads in disbelief over the callousness of the disciples.  And yet, they probably are not much different than we are.  If we’re honest, many of us probably would have to admit that, in our daily lives, we focus mainly on our own needs and concerns, rather than on the needs and concerns of others.

Consequently, in today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges his disciples, including all of us today, to get beyond our inherent selfishness.  He says that “if anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”  Thus, greatness does not involve attaining a high rank or a high status.  According to Jesus, true greatness consists in humble service to others.

This week, our parish mourns the loss of a truly great man, our beloved pastor, Monsignor Jim Loughnane.  He was not great because he attained the rank of monsignor, or because he was the Episcopal Vicar of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region for more than three years, or because he chaired the Clergy Personnel Board for the archdiocese for 12 years.  Monsignor Jim was great because he lived a life of humble service to others.

And all of us at St. Denis saw this firsthand.  Monsignor lived his entire life to serve others, ministering as a priest for over 57 years.  He put everything that he had—his heart, soul, mind, and strength—into his ministry.  And he held nothing back. 

He was always responsive to people’s needs; and whatever someone needed, he would do.  Even at 81 years old, he was always ready to take emergency calls, anoint the sick on short notice, or squeeze in an extra liturgy, such as a last-minute funeral, wedding, or baptism, even if he had three or four other Masses that same day.  In recent years, he didn’t take a day off; and he hardly slept, preferring to work in his office from early morning until 10:00 p.m. at night.  He was like the Energizer Bunny from the old commercials—he just kept going and going and going.  He was an inspiration for me because he showed me that you can keep going strong well into your golden years.

Monsignor Jim poured out his life to serve others; and he died the way that he lived.  Last Monday morning (September 17), he helped to lead Morning Prayer here in the church at 6:10 a.m.  But he wasn’t feeling well.  He started sweating profusely; and his face turned ashen.  A severe pain in his back prevented him from standing.  Somehow, the parishioners moved him into the sacristy, because he still wanted to get ready for the 6:30 a.m. Mass.  He sat in a chair in the sacristy, but couldn’t get up.  One of the parishioners asked him, “Monsignor, do you want me to call 911?”  And he told her, “No!”, which was typical of him.  Thanks be to God, the parishioner called 911 anyway; and Monsignor was rushed to St. Jude Hospital, where he had emergency surgery for an abdominal aneurysm.  The surgery was completed successfully, but Monsignor never recovered.  He died at 7:10 p.m. on Monday, as people were gathering here in the church to pray a Rosary for him.

Thus, Monsignor died exactly the way that he wanted—with his boots on.  In March of this year, when the Vicar for Clergy told me that I would be assigned to St. Denis, he also told me that Monsignor Jim could retire at any time, and he repeated, “He could retire at any time.”  The Vicar wanted to prepare me for the possibility of leading the parish if Monsignor decided to retire.  But when I arrived at St. Denis in July, it was clear to me that Monsignor had no intention of retiring, and that he didn’t even want to discuss the possibility.  Whenever someone asked him when he would retire, he would say, “I’m not retiring.  I’m refiring!”  For him, “retirement” was a dirty word.

And why should he have retired?  After all, he loved what he was doing and enjoyed every minute of it.  In particular, he loved serving the people of God at St. Denis and beyond as a priest of Jesus Christ.  Like Jesus himself, Monsignor lived a generous, self-giving, self-sacrificial life.  He freely poured out his life for others, without counting the cost, by focusing on the needs of others, rather than focusing on his own needs and wants.  And by freely pouring out his life for others, he found true happiness and joy; and he found the purpose and meaning of his life.

When a loved one dies, we often want to do something to honor him or her.  And so what can we do to honor Monsignor Jim?  First, let me tell you what not to do:  Please, don’t buy any flowers because Monsignor hated cut flowers!  That’s why we tend to use artificial flowers in the church. 

I think that the best way to honor Monsignor Jim and his life’s work is for all of us to start living lives of humble service, as he did.  And we don’t have to be priests in order to do this.  We just have to find a way to reorient our lives so that we start living mainly to help other people, rather than to satisfy our own wants and desires.  And if we give our life away, by forgetting ourselves and living for others—including for family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers—then we will find true joy and happiness, as Monsignor did; and we will find the purpose and meaning of our life as well.

This is how Jesus lived.  Jesus was the servant of all; and Monsignor followed in Jesus’s footsteps.  And all of us who are Christians are all called to live in the same generous, self-sacrificial way.