Funeral services were held today for Monsignor Eugene M. Yennock who passed away early the morning of Tuesday, June 6. He was 97 years old and served the people of God for 73 years in ordained ministry in the Diocese of Syracuse. He will be remembered with great affection and respect by the many whose lives he touched.
A vigil service was held Sunday evening at St. Daniel, attended by family, brother priests, deacons and a capacity crowd of friends and parishioners. The livestreamed service is available HERE.
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia was principal celebrant for the funeral liturgy. Fr. Christopher Celentano, who grew up in St Daniel and attributes his vocation to Monsignor’s humble, steady influence, was the homilist for the funeral Mass which can be viewed HERE.
The Catholic Sun will provide ongoing, additional coverage on this website and via Facebook and Instagram. We will provide a full report in our next available print edition on June 22.
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Msgr. Eugene Yennock
Monsignor Eugene Michael Yennock was born September 29, 1925 to Salvatore and Ermalinda Capozzo Yennock, parishioners of Our Lady of Pompei Church. Growing up on the Northside of Syracuse, he attended elementary school at Pompei, and St. John the Baptist High School before attending St. Andrew and St Bernard seminaries. He also received an advanced degree in education from Syracuse University.
He was ordained in June, 1950 and assigned as an assistant at Immaculate Conception in Fulton, eventually becoming administrator. In 1962 he was named principal of Oswego Catholic High School and also served at the same time as pastor of Saint Peter Church in Oswego from 1966 to 1971. For the next ten years he was pastor of Our Lady of the Angels in Endwell before being named pastor of St. Daniel Church in Syracuse (Lyncourt). He would remain there until his retirement in 2021.
Always very active in his parish and the community at large, he continued his priestly ministry of presence to all until his passing. From blessing groups of motorcycles, to praying for life with volunteers outside Planned Parenthood, to visiting the sick in their homes and hospitals, Msgr. Yennock was known for his extensive ministry and for the loving care of his parishes. He also had great influence on a number of young men who would themselves go on to be ordained to the priesthood. Interviews with these priests will be featured in an upcoming issue of The Catholic Sun.
