SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Longtime Syracuse Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Costello has died.

The Syracuse Diocese announced Friday that the reverend passed away at the age of 89.

A native of Camden, in Oswego County, Bishop Costello served as a priest of the diocese for nearly 65 years and as an auxiliary bishop for more than 40 years.

“Today, we all join in mourning the death of Most Rev. Thomas J. Costello who served as Auxiliary Bishop for over 40 years.  In the 89^th year of his life and the 64^th year of his priesthood, the Lord has called Bishop Costello to Himself,” said Bishop Robert Cunningham. “We thank him for a lifetime of service to the Church and in a very special way for his service to the Diocese of Syracuse.  We pray now that the evening has come, the fever of his life is over, his work is done and that God will give him a safe lodging, holy rest and peace forever.”

Ordained a priest on June 5, 1954, Costello was appointed an assistant pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Syracuse, where he served from 1954 to 1959.  He served as a secretary in the Diocesan Tribunal for one year before being named superintendent of Catholic Schools from 1960 to 1975. In 1975, he was named pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Syracuse where he served until 1978.  He was named Vicar General of the diocese in 1978 and served in that role until 2009. 

Costello fought for employee rights, stood up against the death penalty, and marched in Alabama with Dr. Martin Luther King.

"He also influenced people in interfaith works and all kinds of community activist situations," Cunningham said.

He'll be remembered as an example.

"He was ready to meet the Lord," Cunningham said. "He would have been 90 years old in a few weeks, in a week really, and this is a 90th birthday celebration according to God's plan, not ours."

Reception of the body will happen next Thursday at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. Visitation is from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Vigil Service.

A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. next Friday at the same location. He'll be buried Friday in Saint Peter's Catholic Cemetery in Rome at 2:00 p.m.