Island residents gathered for a Rosary and Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Yona yesterday in honor of former Guam priest Father George Maddock who died late last month.

The Capuchin Franciscan friar served Guam and the Hawaii for more than 50 years in different capacity.  He was a parish priest, seminary rector, school principal and teacher,, religious superior and director of formation for future Capuchins, according to the Archdiocese of Agana.

Maddock was born in New York and at 18 years old, entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order in 1955.  He was ordained in 1964 and arrived in Guam the following year to teach at Father Duenas Memorial School.

At the time of his death, Maddock, 81, was living off island and was expected to be buried in the friars’ cemetery at Sacred Heart Church in Yonkers, New York.