Father William E. McCarthy, MM

Born: January 17, 1931
Ordained: June 14, 1958
Died: May 29, 2024

Father William E. McCarthy died on May 29, 2024 in the Assisted Living Unit at Maryknoll, New York. He was 93 years old and a Maryknoll priest for 65 years.

William Edward McCarthy was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 17, 1931, one of two children to William and Catherine Connell McCarthy. He attended St. Francis of Assisi Elementary School and Bishop Loughlin High School, both in Brooklyn, and entered Maryknoll on September 7, 1948 at the Maryknoll Seminary, Glen Ellyn, Illinois. His interest was stimulated by a Maryknoll vocation pamphlet and by his participation as a youth in the “Catholic Center Club,” whose moderator, Father Andrew Ansbro, C.P. was a great inspiration.

Father McCarthy was ordained on June 14, 1958 at Maryknoll, New York and was assigned to Musoma, Tanzania, East Africa. After language studies, he worked for several years in Isenye parish as a teacher in the parish school.  He was transferred to Dar es Salaam in 1974 and remained there until returning to the United States in June 1977.

Upon his return, Father McCarthy worked as Assistant Pastor at St. Barnabas the Apostle in Bellmore, New York, in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. He was formally assigned to the United States Region in June 1979 and continued his pastoral work at St. Barnabas.

In 1993 Father McCarthy moved to St. Mark’s Church in Shoreham, New York, also in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, where he was commended for his pastoral leadership. He was assigned to the Senior Missioner Community in June 2000, and continued as Pastor of St. Mark’s until his retirement in 2002. Father McCarthy moved to the Society Center at Maryknoll, New York in August 2002. He celebrated his 65th Jubilee as a Maryknoll priest among family and friends at the Maryknoll Center in June 2023.

Father McCarthy is survived by his sister and his cousins. Wake services were held on May 31, 2024 in the Holy Spirit Chapel and the Queen of Apostles Chapel at the Maryknoll Society Center. Mass of Christian Burial followed at 11:00 a.m. and was concelebrated in the Queen of Apostles Chapel. Father John Lange was the Celebrant and homilist. Brother Mark Gruenke read the biography and Father John Rich read the Oath. Burial followed in the Maryknoll Society Cemetery with Father James Lynch presiding at the graveside prayers.