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For parishioners at St. Raphael's Catholic Church, it's more than just a coincidence that the Rev. G. William Finch died on Holy Thursday beneath the statue of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of happy deaths.

In his seven short years as a priest there, Finch spearheaded the creation of a school on the church's Potomac campus, organized transport and temporary homes for victims of Hurricane Katrina, and lifted the spirits of the parishioners through his renowned sense of humor — he was partial to outbursts of song and lively dinner gatherings at the St. Raphael's rectory he called his home.

Just the day before his death, Finch had celebrated his 55th birthday, and the daily Mass at St. Raphael's School was ended by a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday" performed by students there. Thursday — the day Catholics celebrate the creation of the priesthood and the beginning of the Eucharist — Rev. Finch had just finished Mass and began complaining of shortness of breath after most of the 700 parishioners had left.

Surrounded by priests in the church's sanctuary, he was anointed — a final Sacrament for Catholics —before he was rushed to Shady Grove Hospital and pronounced dead of a heart attack.

Parishioners have been shocked and saddened by the death, but the context of his passing in a season of resurrection, surrounded by friends and before the statue is deeply symbolic. "If you had scripted it, you couldn't have picked a better ending," said Teri Dwyer, principal of St. Raphael's School.

"Certainly there aren't any coincidences for believers — everything is a part of God's providence," said the Rev. Rory Conley, a pastor at St. John Neumann Catholic Community in Gaithersburg and a good friend of Finch's. "It was in the Lord's mind it would take place that way."

Bishops from the Archdiocese of Washington have attended the church to comfort parishioners there and to help with the many Masses during the busy Easter season. Father Carlos Benitez, an associate pastor, has hastily taken over operations of a church composed of about 3,200 families still reeling from the loss of a man who many describe as a born leader.

For parishioners, celebrating Holy Week has been bittersweet — the loss of their pastor is still keen, though the symbolic nature of his passing during a season of death and resurrection has provided some measure of comfort.

"It was hard to be happy on Easter Sunday, which is the happiest day of the year for us," Dwyer said. "Here is this huge void and shock and people feeling the pain of it all, but we're trying to be comforted by the fact that we believe in resurrection. It was a little harder to sing and feel that total joy."

That Finch led a vibrant, successful life and is now at peace has also cushioned the blow somewhat, parishioners say.

Many of the Masses have been standing room only, Dwyer said. A vigil is planned for Monday afternoon and evening, and funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Born in the District, Finch grew up in southern Prince George's and Charles counties, according to friends. Originally a Baptist, he converted to Catholicism when he was in his 20s. "He was a character," Dwyer said. "He loved good wine — he had studied in Rome and he loved to cook Italian food."

"He had a wisdom about him, and a decisiveness," said Rev. Lee Fangmeyer, a priest at St. Francis of Assisi in Derwood and a close friend of Finch. The two were ordained together and were gearing up to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their ordination into the priesthood in June. "He could plan and implement and make things happen, and one of his gifts was being able to get people around him to do things. He would have a vision, and they would get on board."

Many credit Finch's leadership with pushing forward the vision for the St. Raphael's School. His dream, according to Dwyer, was to house grades Kindergarten through eight at the school. Kindergarten and first grade opened there in 2006, with second and third grades following in 2007 and 2008. The school recently obtained permission from the City of Rockville to construct a new school building, and bids for the project recently went out, Dwyer said.

Finch also headed up renovations at the church, and oversaw the installation of a new altar ingrained with images of the Archangels — including Raphael, of course — designed by Italian marble workers. He broadcast the arrival of the new altar for parishioners on YouTube last year, Dwyer said.

However, Dwyer said these are only some of the ways Finch's legacy will live on at the church. "Everywhere you go, he feel something he did, somewhere he left his mark," Dwyer said.