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A funeral Mass will be celebrated Aug. 20 for Father Albert Vucinovich, retired pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Burlingame. Father Vucinovich, also a retired U.S. Navy captain, died Aug. 14 at Stanford Hospital after a four - year battle with leukemia. Ordained June 13, 1964, he was 71 years old.

San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop William J. Justice will be principal celebrant at the funeral Mass. He spoke with Catholic San Francisco on the day of Father Vucinovich's death on behalf of himself and Archbishop George Neiderauer and Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius Wang, who were out of the country.

"Al loved being a priest," Bishop Justice said. "He cared deeply for his people. He loved his flock, loved Jesus and wanted to share Jesus with them."

Father Vucinovich was also a priest with whom the bishops were glad to share the mantle of leadership. "Al was a very good mentor with new priests," Bishop Justice said, "and he remained good friends with them. We are very glad to have been in ministry with him."

The late priest was someone who did not shy away from the tough subject or issue, according to Bishop Justice. "Al was always concerned and said what needed to be said very sincerely and without ego. We are very sorry to loose him but he has suffered greatly, especially during the last few months. We are glad he is in peace now and embraced by the God he loves."

A native of San Francisco, Father Vucinovich attended St. Paul Elementary School and Archbishop Riordan High School before beginning studies for the priesthood at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mountain View, now closed, and St. Patrick's Seminary and University in Menlo Park.

His first assignment as a priest was to Church of the Resurrection in Sunnyvale where the now late Father Nicholas Farana was founding pastor. Father Farana saw in the young priest what many in ensuing years also saw. In a communication with then Archbishop Joseph McGucken, Father Farana said the new presbyter had "not only in action but in spirit, qualities of the highest priestly virtue." Father Vucinovich was homilist at Father Farana's funeral Mass in March 1998.

Father Vucinovich and Father Larry Goode, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in East Palo Alto, were seminary classmates and friends. "We were as close as two guys from rival schools could be," Father Goode said with a laugh. "He went to Riordan and I went to Serra."

Father Goode remembered Father Vucinovich as a "guy on the job" who "loved being a priest and out with the people."

"I admired him for always coming up with a smile even in difficult times," Father Goode said. "He was upbeat and full of good humor. In the seminary he was pleasant to be around and walk with. People would be complaining about the food and the teachers, but not Al. He always saw things in a positive light. He also stayed on the job even during illness and that's not something many people would do, including me."

Father Vucinovich taught at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo for eight years. Father Stephen Howell, ordained in 1974, joined him on the school's faculty going on to serve for almost 30 years as the school's president.

"Al was a great guy and very kind," said Father Howell, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Belmont since 2004. "He was a good man, priest and teacher who was dedicated to his students. We were good friends for many years."

Father Vucinovich served as pastor of St. Rita Parish Fairfax from 1986 - 1998. Rose Milani, a parishioner there for 36 years, remembers him well. "He was a marvelous man, a wonderful man, a very holy man" Milani said, "very caring, thoughtful and kind. He will always have a very special place in my heart."

Father Vucinovich was a great listener, she said. "Father Vucinovich was someone you could talk to and come away inspired. You could tell him anything. I am honored to have known him."

Silvia Chiesa has served as a pastoral associate at St. Catherine of Siena Parish for 20 years. "Father Al was always very interested in the well being of the parishioners and the parish," she said " I was often impressed with his courage - not only what he endured with his illness but how he took up or supported projects that were not popular with all the people. He had a great love of the Gospels and lived the teachings of Christ."

As a supervisor, Father Vucinovich won high marks, Chiesa said. "He was very fair with people and let us do our work. He gave advice and guidance when asked, but was very encouraging and trusted in our abilities."

In his role as a Navy captain, Father Vucinovich was a regular presider at rites honoring veterans at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma. "For our first Veteran's Day service in 1996, Father Al was the first to sign up and at that time he was still an active Navy Chaplain," said Kathy Atkinson, director of cemeteries for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. "Wind, rain or shine every year without fail our dearly loved, soft - spoken Father Al was here to pray for the deceased members of the Armed Forces and their families. Gracious and caring, he also spent time thanking and consoling those living vets who attended services."

Father Vucinovich was interred in the military section of Holy Cross and "will be especially remembered during the service under the flags in November," Atkinson said, noting, "As he always remembered them, so we will never forget him."

Father Vucinovich is survived by his aunt, Jane Dabovitch. Notes of condolence may be sent to her at 187 Capistrano Ave., San Francisco 94112.