His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Patrick Joseph McGrath
Bishop Emeritus of San José in California
McGrath (right) in 2007
ChurchCathedral Basilica of St. Joseph
DioceseSan Jose
AppointedJune 30, 1998
InstalledNovember 27, 1999
Term endedMay 1, 2019
PredecessorPierre DuMaine
SuccessorOscar Cantú
Orders
OrdinationJune 7, 1970
by Michael Russell
ConsecrationJanuary 25, 1989
by John R. Quinn, Mark Joseph Hurley, and Michael Joseph Kaniecki
Personal details
Born(1945-06-11)June 11, 1945
Dublin, Ireland
DiedMay 7, 2023(2023-05-07) (aged 77)
DenominationRoman Catholic
Previous post(s)
MottoTOGETHER IN CHRIST
Styles of
Patrick Joseph McGrath
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Patrick Joseph McGrath (/məˈɡrɔː/ meh-GRAW;[1] June 11, 1945 – May 7, 2023) was an Irish-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of San Jose in California from 1999 to 2019 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco from 1989 to 1998.

Biography

Early life

Patrick McGrath was born in Dublin, Ireland, on June 11, 1945. He was the youngest of three sons of Patrick Joseph McGrath, Sr., and Eileen Gaule McGrath. For secondary school, Patrick McGrath attended Chanel College in Dublin. In 1964, at age 19, McGrath entered St. John's Seminary in Waterford, Ireland. His father died while he was in seminary.[2]

Priesthood

In 1970, McGrath was ordained to the priesthood in Waterford by Michael Russell (bishop of Waterford and Lismore) for service in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.[3] McGrath moved to San Francisco, where he was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Anne of the Sunset Parish and as a member of the archdiocesan tribunal.

In 1974, he was sent to Rome to continue his education, earning a Doctor of Canon Law degree from the Pontifical Lateran University on June 11, 1977. After returning to San Francisco. McGrath was appointed the vice-officialis, then officialis, of the archdiocesan tribunal. In 1986, he became pastor, then rector of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in San Francisco.[2][4]

Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco

Pope John Paul II appointed McGrath as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and titular bishop of Allegheny (Titular See)|Allegheny on December 6, 1988. He was consecrated on January 25, 1989, at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco. Archbishop Quinn served as his principal consecrator.[5]

Bishop of San Jose

John Paul II named McGrath as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of San Jose on June 30, 1998. When Bishop Pierre DuMaine retired on November 27, 1999, McGrath automatically succeeded him.[5]

On August 23, 2018, the diocese, with McGrath's approval, paid US$2.3 million for a 3,269 square foot, five-bedroom home in Silicon Valley to serve as McGrath's retirement residence. McGrath explained that the money for house came from a fund that was dedicated only for housing expenses for retired bishops.[6][7] However, facing criticism about the purchase, McGrath said a day later that the parish would sell the house and he would eventually retire in a parish rectory instead.[8][9]

On October 23, 2018, McGrath released a list of 15 priests with credible allegations of sexual abuse against minors. As part of the investigative process, McGrath held several listening sessions with individuals impacted by the alleged crimes.[10]

Retirement and death

Before having reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 for bishops, McGrath submitted his letter of resignation as bishop of the Diocese of San Jose to Pope Francis.[5] The pope accepted it on May 1, 2019.

McGrath died on May 7, 2023, at the age of 77.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bishop DuMaine Retires; Bishop McGrath Succeeds". The Valley Catholic. San Jose, California: Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose in California. December 14, 1999. Reprinted in "Bishop DuMaine Retires; Bishop McGrath Succeeds". The Valley Catholic. Vol. 36, no. 16. May 7, 2019. p. 8. Bishop Patrick J. McGrath (pronounced: mcgrah), 54, who had been coadjutor bishop since June 30, 1998, immediately succeeded him, becoming the second bishop to head the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose.
  2. 1 2 Ward, Roberta (October 20, 1998). "'PJ' McGrath – from Youth in Ireland to Coadjutor Bishop of San Jose". The Valley Catholic. San Jose, California: Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose in California. Reprinted in Ward, Roberta (May 7, 2019). "'PJ' McGrath – from Youth in Ireland to Coadjutor Bishop of San Jose". The Valley Catholic. Vol. 36, no. 16. San Jose, California: Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose in California. pp. 46–50.
  3. ↑ "Bishop Patrick Joseph McGrath [Catholic-Hierarchy]".
  4. ↑ "Pope Accepts Bishop Mcfarland's Resignation, Names Bishop Tod Brown to Orange; Bishop Mcgrath Appointed Coadjutor of San Jose; Msgr. Wester Is Named Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco" (Press release). Office of Media Relations, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. June 29, 1998. Archived from the original on August 3, 2005. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 "Bishop Patrick Joseph McGrath [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  6. ↑ Woolfolk, John (August 26, 2018). "San Jose Diocese buys bishop $2.3 million retirement home". The Mercury News. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Church buys five-bedroom, $2.3m Silicon Valley home for retiring bishop". The Guardian. August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  8. ↑ Green, Jason (August 27, 2018). "Retiring S.J. bishop confesses error in judgment, won't move into $2.3 million home". The Mercury News. Retrieved August 28, 2018. The home was purchased with money from a fund dedicated to housing retired bishops and proceeds from the sale of a Menlo Park condominium, where McGrath's predecessor, retired Bishop Pierre DuMaine, had lived before moving into assisted living.
  9. ↑ "Statement of Bishop Patrick J. McGrath Diocese of San Jose". August 27, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  10. ↑ Nguyen, Vicky; Bott, Michael; Bonilla, Bethney; Myers, Sean; Carroll, Jeremy; Kimi; Rew • • (October 18, 2018). "San Jose Diocese Releases Names of Clergy Accused of Abuse". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  11. ↑ Diocese of San Jose staff (May 7, 2023). "Emeritus Bishop Patrick J. McGrath". Diocese of San Jose. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
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