Msgr. James Phan Van Dai; Burbank Priest

Msgr. James Phan Van Dai, a retired associate pastor at St. Finbar Catholic Church and liaison to the Vietnamese community, has died at a Burbank hospital. He was 72.

Dai died Saturday of natural causes, according to mortuary officials.

Born in Vietnam, he attended the Hanoi Diocesan Seminary in North Vietnam and was ordained in 1948. Following the Vietnam War, he came to the United States and became affiliated with the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese in 1975. After serving a short time as associate pastor at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Los Angeles, Dai transferred to St. Finbar Catholic Church where he served in the same capacity. He was made a permanent priest of the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese in 1980. After his retirement in 1987, Dai became a liaison to the San Fernando Valley Vietnamese community, saying mass and performing baptisms and marriage ceremonies. He was named a monsignor in January.

Dai is survived by his sister, Sister Eugenia Phan of Inglewood.

Visitation is planned from 3 to 9 p.m. today) with a 7:30 p.m. vigil at the Valley Funeral Home, 2121 W. Burbank Blvd. in Burbank, which is handling the arrangements. Visitation will continue from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday at the mortuary, with a 7:30 p.m. vigil at St. Finbar Catholic Church at 2010 W. Olive Ave.

A funeral mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with burial to follow at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills.