WORCESTER, Mass. - The Diocese of Worcester is mourning the death of Bishop Emeritus Daniel Reilly.

He was the fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese.

He passed away Tuesday night at the age of 96.

Reilly was born in Providence and served in the diocese there before being ordained the bishop of Norwich, Connecticut in 1975. Pope John Paul II named him Bishop of Worcester in 1994.

He was a fixture at community events like the St. Patrick's Parade and was a member of several boards of trustees, including at Assumption University and St. Vincent Hospital.

Diocese spokesperson Ray Delisle compares this loss to the death of a father or grandfather. He said Reilly seemed to be always present for people.

“He was there at every event and every conference, and he was also there in the tough times,” said Ray Delisle, chancellor and director of Communications for the Diocese of Worcester. “He was there for everyone during the Worcester Cold Storage Fire. He was implementing the Charter for the Protection of Young People and putting into place things to address the needs of victims and be protective of children in our places. So, he was there for the good times and the bad times."

Bishop Reilly's retirement was accepted in 2004.

He was named in lawsuits alleging he reassigned priests accused of sexual misconduct when he was in Rhode Island and Connecticut. He told the Telegram and Gazette he was never personally involved with the moves.

Reilly was also a member of the U.S. Conference of Bishops and traveled to Northern Ireland on a peace mission.

There will be a visitation at the Cathedral of Saint Paul on Tuesday. It's also where his funeral mass will be held the following day.