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 Father James Daniel McGuire, OAR, died early Friday morning September 8, 2017 in Montebello, California. He was 88 years old. Fr. McGuire was the former Provincial of Saint Augustine Province and former Prior General of the Order of Augustinian Recollects. Earlier this month he reached his 70th anniversary of simple profession. A Roman Catholic priest for over 60 years, for nearly 20 years he had been one of the Parochial Vicars at Saint Benedict Parish in Montebello, California. Fr. James was born on January 20, 1929 in Kansas City, Missouri to Felix Alexander McGuire and Nora Kathleen Schorgl McGuire. One of several children, he grew up in the Kansas City area and entered the Order of Augustinian Recollects at St. Augustine’s Monastery in Kansas City where he made his simple profession on September 1, 1947. He was ordained a priest on May 29, 1954 at Sacred Heart Church in Suffern, New York.  He went on to receive higher degrees in canon law and educational administration. Over the years he served as teacher, administrator, and principal. He also was Provincial Secretary before becoming Prior Provincial and later the first American Prior General of the Order of Augustinian Recollects. Also, at different times he was prior, pastor and associated pastor in several places. In addition to Montebello he served the people of God in Kansas City, Omaha, West Orange, Rome, Santa Ana, Watts, Atwater Village, and other places. He was adamant that he did not want to retire. He wanted to stay in his beloved Montebello serving God’s people until God wanted to take him home. In his later years he maintained his interest in current affairs, reading the newspaper and watching the news, checking news from the Order on the internet and daily working crossword puzzles. Fr. McGuire had a special sense of humor that will be fondly remembered as will his attention to the sick and homebound. He also was always attentive to birthdays, anniversaries, and visitors at the Sunday liturgies he presided. He was a special priest who loved his family, his Order and the people of God. He dedicated his long life to our Lord and to serving the Lord’s s people in an admirable way, in a wide variety of ministries, and in very different places. He loved the people he served and they loved him. He will be deeply missed by all those who knew him.    

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