Msgr. Lawrence Battle was called to his eternal rest on June 22, 2013 in Palm Springs.
He was born in Ottawa, Canada on December 14, 1919 to Henry Joseph and Mary Agnes Battle.
He was ordained to the priesthood on February 2, 1949 in the Basilica of Notre Dame in Ottawa by Archbishop Alexandre Vachon. He was invited to come to the Diocese of San Diego in 1959 by Bishop Charles Buddy.
ASTON, PA—Sister Joan Griffin, OSF (formerly Sister Jamesina), 86, died in Assisi House on January 13. She was a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 67 years. Sister Joan was born in Liskennett, Croom, County Limerick, Ireland, where she was a member of St. Lawrence Parish in Banogue. She entered the congregation in 1944 and professed her first vows in 1946. Sister Joan earned a B.S. in Education and an M.A. in Education, both from Seattle University. She ministered primarily in education on both the elementary and secondary level. She received the Schoolmaster of the Year Award in Contra Costa County, California, for 1978-1979 and the St. Bernardine Award for service in the Diocese of San Bernardino in 2006.
RANCHO MIRAGE—James Shea, Jr., whose generosity benefited many Catholic parishes, schools and social outreach ministries in the Coachella Valley, was called to eternal rest on January 12 at the age of 87.