Father Cunniffe dies in Memphis MEMPHIS — Father James Cunniffe, SCJ, died Aug. 30 in Memphis, Tenn., following a stroke. He was 77-years-old and lived in Nesbit, Miss.
A member of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, who serve in the nine northern counties of Mississippi through Sacred Heart Southern Missions, Father Cunniffe had served at several Mississippi parishes before retiring in 2006. He also served as director of parish ministries for Sacred Heart Southern Missions.
In 1967, he moved from academics to parish ministry. He was pastor at Walls Sacred Heart Parish and ministered at St. Denis in Louisville, Ky., Our Lady of Guadalupe in Houston, and St. Joseph’s in Holly Springs, Miss., before moving to Canada in 1979 to minister at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Toronto. From 1986 to 1993, he served at St. Patrick Parish in Caledonia, Ont.
In 1994, he returned to the United States and took up ministry once again in northern Mississippi. He served the parishes of Holy Spirit in Hernando and St. Gregory in Senatobia. From 1998 to 2005 he was director of parish ministries for Sacred Heart Southern Missions.
In 2006, Father Cunniffe retired from active ministry, but continued to live in Nesbit.
A memorial Mass was celebrated Monday, Sept. 3, at Holy Spirit Church in Hernando. A Mass of Christian Burial was to be celebrated Wednesday, Sept. 5, at Sacred Heart Monastery in Hales Corners, Wis.
