Father J. Allen DeLong (HCH file photo)
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Marianist Father J. Allen DeLong, whose long life of ministry included years of service at St. Anthony School in Wailuku, Maui, and at Saint Louis School in Honolulu, died Jan. 18 in Cupertino, California, where he retired in 2021. He was 92 years old, with 71 years of profession.
Father DeLong, who was from Northern California, entered the Society of Mary (Marianists) in 1952, making his first vows as a brother in 1953. Three years later he got his first assignment — teaching at St. Anthony School.
He then returned to California to teach at high schools there before entering the seminary in Toronto, Canada; he was ordained a priest in 1977.
After ordination, Father DeLong spent many years at Chaminade College Preparatory in Los Angeles, eventually becoming president while also teaching and organizing retreats.
In 1999 Father DeLong became president of Saint Louis School, which he led until 2006.
He took on a different kind of teaching during his next assignment, as assistant novice master in Kenya. For 4-1/2 years, he trained men who were preparing to take their religious vows in the Marianist order; he also spent a summer in India teaching physics to young brothers.
Following his overseas ministry and a sabbatical back in California, in 2012 Father DeLong returned to Wailuku — working at St. Anthony Church as well as teaching at St. Anthony School. Three years later he was back at Saint Louis School, serving as campus minister.
It was Father DeLong’s last assignment before he retired.