With sadness, we announce that our brother, Rev. Daniel E. McCotter, C.S.P., has entered eternal life.

He died on Monday afternoon, March 16, 2026, at Cedarhurst of Arnold, a care facility in Arnold, MO.

He was 81 years old.

A member of the Paulist community for 48 years and a priest for almost 45 years, Fr. McCotter served as a parish pastor, including three decades of distinguished ministry with the Chinese community in San Francisco.

Daniel England McCotter was born on October 17, 1944, in St. Louis, MO, a son of Emmett J. McCotter and Mary Catherine Kelley McCotter.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Christian Brothers College in 1966 and a Masters in Education from Memphis State University in 1971.

He began his religious life as a Christian Brother as Br. Emmett Raimond.

In 1977, he entered the Paulist novitiate.

He made his First Promises on August 12, 1978, and his Final Promises on September 6, 1980. He was ordained a priest on May 16, 1981.

Fr. McCotter earned an additional degree in 1982 from the Washington Theological Union.

In his first priestly assignments, he served as associate pastor of St. Leo the Great Church in Houston, TX, and associate pastor of St. Cyril of Alexandria Church in Tucson, AZ.

In early 1984, Fr. McCotter began his three decades of ministry in San Francisco, first as director of the Holy Family Chinese Mission and then as pastor of Old St. Mary’s Cathedral.

“I came to know Dan especially during the 15 years I lived in San Francisco, where his presence and ministry were widely cherished,” wrote Rev. Ricky Manalo, C.S.P. “For over three decades, he served the Chinese Catholic community with remarkable dedication … His quiet, steady pastoral leadership helped shape a faithful community rooted in culture, tradition, and belonging.”

In 2015, Fr. McCotter became pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Community in Los Angeles.

He entered senior ministry in 2018. He was based at Old St. Mary’s Church in Chicago through 2022 before returning to the St. Louis area.

Fr. McCotter was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James Michael McCotter.

In addition to his Paulist brothers, Fr. McCotter is survived by his brother, Kevin McCotter and his wife, Tina; his nephews, Brian and Nicholas; his niece, Angela McCotter Cafferata and her husband, Matthew; other extended family members; as well as friends and one-time parishioners.

Our prayer for our brother, Daniel:

May the angels lead you into paradise,
may the martyrs come to welcome you,
and take you to the holy city,
the new and eternal Jerusalem.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Rev. Daniel E. McCotter, C.S.P., will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at St. James the Greater Church in St. Louis, MO.

A time of visitation will take place before the Mass, beginning at 9 a.m.

The principal celebrant will be Very Rev. René Constanza, C.S.P., President of the Paulist Fathers. The homily will be shared by Rev. Jerry Tully, C.S.P.

The Mass will be livestreamed on the St. James the Greater Church website.

A reception / luncheon hosted by the McCotter family will follow the Mass.

Fr. McCotter’s remains will be buried at Noon on Monday, March 23, 2026, in the Christian Brothers Cemetery in Glencoe, MO. Rev. John Ardis, C.S.P., vice president of the Paulist Fathers will preside.