Funeral Mass will be celebrated Dec. 9 at 11 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church in Maywood for Msgr. George A. Duran who died Dec. 4.

A native of Spain, Msgr. Duran was ordained in 1952 with one of the largest ordination classes in history, some 820 priests, during the International Eucharistic Congress in that country. Originally he was a member of the Burgos Foreign Mission Society, Spain's equivalent to the U.S. Maryknoll group. He was first assigned to Santa Teresita Church in Los Angeles and then served for 13 years in Japan where he learned the language.

His next assignments as an associate pastor or administrator were Our Lady of Gudalupe, Santa Paula; St. Lucy and Immaculate Conception, Los Angeles; and St. Matthias, Huntington Park. In 1975, he was named pastor of St. Rose of Lima where he served for 27 years. In 1995 Pope John Paul II named him a Prelate of His Holiness.

According to the present pastor, Father David Velazquez, Msgr. Duran was noted for his patience, humility and positive attitude, particularly for his sense of humor and emotional preaching. He fostered Hispanic ministry in the parish and was a supporter of the many choirs who will be singing for his funeral.

"Although he suffered from an illness," Father Velazquez said, "he never complained but continued his support for all the parish groups and was active with all the surrounding churches of different faiths."

For the last three years Msgr. Duran was a resident at Nazareth House. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery, Montebello.