By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami

Archbishop Thomas Wenski preached this homily at the funeral Mass for Father John McGrath, 83, longtime pastor of San Pedro Church in Tavernier. He celebrated the Mass Oct. 1 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Doral, next door to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery, where Father McGrath was buried afterward.  

The longer one lives the greater the chance that there will be more people in heaven to welcome you than there will be people on earth to bid you farewell. But 14 years after he retired to live in Central Florida, Father John McGrath is fondly remembered by hundreds, if not thousands, who were touched by his ministry. Yesterday, Bishop John Noonan, a priest and former auxiliary bishop of Miami, presided at a funeral Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Clermont. In retirement he often helped out there — and people were grateful for the many hours he gave there for the Sacrament of Penance. When I was bishop of Orlando and had occasion to visit Blessed Sacrament, he was there assisting the parish priests. 

Now John McGrath, did not know Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. It didn’t exist during his time here in Miami. He served as pastor at Visitation in Miami Gardens and at San Pedro in Tavernier and he retired from there in July 2002 — but he was very devoted to Our Lady and wished to be buried with the priests of the Archdiocese at Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery.  

After 55 years as a priest, years spent in faithful service to God and to his people, we commend the soul of Father McGrath to the Mercy of God. As priests we know our own human frailty, and so we are not shy in asking for prayers for him — and when we die, we beg your prayers for us, confident that the love of Jesus Christ who gave us the gift of the priesthood is stronger than death.

Here in the Archdiocese of Miami, when one of our priests dies, each parish makes a contribution for special Masses to be celebrated for him.  These Masses are commended to priests in mission lands — where often the only income available to a priest is his Mass stipend. And so even as we offer this Mass for the repose of Father John’s soul, please know that other Masses will be offered for him throughout the whole world in coming months. 

Every person’s life is lived under the sign of the Cross. Experience shows, especially when that experience is interpreted in the light of the wisdom that age gives, experience shows that life’s difficulties, by God’s grace, contribute to peoples’ growth and the forging of their character. From adversity comes a light that can brighten the years of old age, for as St. John Chrysostom said: Tribulations not only do not destroy hope, they are its foundation. And so, Father even in his infirmities of these last several months gave us a witness to hope, a witness of priestly integrity and the joy that comes from walking through this life as a friend of Jesus. 

In fact, that’s all we need to say about John McGrath: he was a priest who lived his priesthood as a friend of Jesus; that explains his zeal for souls; that explains his devotion to his Church; that explains his love for Jesus. 

In gratitude for his faith, his long years of priestly service, and his perseverance in his vocation, we commend him to Mary, the mother of all priests, whom we invoke as Queen of the Clergy.

Eternal Rest grant unto him, O Lord. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the Mercy of God rest in Peace. Amen.