Father Paul J. McCarthy, S.J.

Courtesy photo

+ Enlarge

Father Paul J. McCarthy, S.J.

June 15, 1924 ~ Jan. 18, 2022

Jesuit Father Paul McCarthy was born in Rochester, New York on June 15, 1924, the son of Patrick and Margaret (Schwan) McCarthy. He attended the grammar school of the local parish, Our Lady of Good Counsel. After graduation he studied six years at St. Andrew’s Minor Seminary in Rochester.

After graduation, he entered the Society of Jesus on July 30, 1944. Two years of novitiate and one year of studies of classics at St. Andrew-on-Hudson in Poughkeepsie, New York, were followed by three years of study of philosophy and chemistry at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. Some of this study was then put to use in a year of teaching chemistry at Regis High School, in New York City from 1950-51.

More studies, however, were in the offing: three years in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he received a Master of Science from Holy Cross College and a PhD from Clark University, both in chemistry; four years of theology at Woodstock, Maryland, after three years of which he was ordained a priest in June 1957; and one year of ascetical study and pastoral work at Auriesville, New York.

His background in chemistry began to bear fruit starting with a year of teaching at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was then transferred to Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, in 1960, where he would remain for the rest of his teaching career. During these years of teaching, he also maintained an active interest in research in spectroscopy, which resulted in his being coauthor of about 50 articles published in chemical journals.

After his retirement as chemistry professor, Fr. McCarthy was associate pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Sandy, Utah, from January 2000 until August 1, 2014.

Fr. McCarthy was very interested in his family’s history. While in Utah he spent a good deal of time at the family history library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From his work there he was able to gather much data about his ancestors. This resulted in a lengthy family history, which he shared with about 100 relatives.

He skied quite a lot during his time in Utah but stopped at age 86 due to health problems.

He retired from pastoral work at age 90 and moved from Utah to the Jesuit health care center Murray-Weigel Hall in the Bronx. There he was active in several projects that aided the community.

Fr. McCarthy died peacefully on Jan. 18, 2022, at the age of 97 at Murray-Weigel Hall. He donated his body to the New York University Medical School. At the completion of their use, the remains will be cremated and buried in the Jesuit Cemetery at Auriesville, New York.  

Father John Evans will celebrate a memorial Mass for Fr. McCarthy at 9 a.m. Monday,  Jan. 31 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 3015 E. Creek Road, Sandy.