Father John J. McCormack

Reverend John J. McCormack, 90, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Good Friday, April 7, 2023. Bishop James Johnston will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 10:30 AM at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church, 8941 James A. Reed Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64138. The interment will be at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Raytown, Missouri.

A Rosary will be prayed at 5:30 PM on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church. Visitation will follow from 6:00-8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Little Sisters of the Poor, 8745 James A. Reed Rd., Kansas City, MO 64138 or the Endowment Trust Fund for Catholic Education, c/o Diocese of KC-St. Joseph, 920 W. 9th St., Kansas City, MO 64105.

Father McCormack was born on June 4, 1932, in Kansas City, MO, son of John F. and Mary (McGrath) McCormack. He attended Redemptorist Grade School (1938-1945), De La Salle Military Academy (1945-1949), Rockhurst College (1949-1952), and was in the US Air Force (1952-1956; Korea, 1953-1954). He entered Immaculate Conception Seminary, Conception, Missouri (1956-1961), and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop John Cody on March 18, 1961. He studied at Fordham University Graduate School of Education (1966-1968). He then took a sabbatical to attend the North American College, Institute for Continuing Theological Education (Rome, Italy) from August – November 1995.

His education degrees and certifications include an M.A. Religion, Immaculate Conception Seminary; M.S. in Education Administration, Supervision and Methods, Fordham University; State of Missouri Secondary School Teacher Certification, English and Latin (1964), and Secondary School Administration (1968).

His teaching positions included: Academic Teacher, English and Latin, St. Joseph Academy, Chillicothe, MO (1963-1967); Principal (1968-1972) and Religion Teacher (1972-1978), (1994-1996) St. Pius X High School (Kansas City, MO); Religion Teacher and Chaplain, Archbishop O’Hara High School (Kansas City, MO) (1984-1989), (1992-1994); Religion Teacher, St. Mary’s High School (Independence, MO) (1989-1990).

His diocesan parish assignments included: Associate, Our Lady of Lourdes (Raytown) and St. Peter (Kansas City, MO) (1961-1962); Associate, St. Charles Borromeo (Gladstone, MO) (1962-1963); Associate in residence, St. Columban (Chillicothe, MO) (1963-1966); Graduate student, Fordham University (New York) (1966-1968); Associate in residence, St. Charles Borromeo (Gladstone, MO) (1968-1972); Associate in residence, St. Therese (Parkville, MO) (1972-1975); Pastor, Holy Trinity (Weston, MO) (1975-1978); Pastor, St. Patrick (St. Joseph, MO) (1978-1981); Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes (Raytown, MO) (1981-1984); Parochial Administrator, St. Robert Bellarmine (Blue Springs, MO) (June - December 1989); Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Lourdes (Raytown, MO) (1990); Parochial Administrator, St. Catherine of Siena (Kansas City, MO) (January - June 1991); Parochial Vicar Our Lady of Lourdes (Raytown, MO) (June 1991-July 1995); In residence, St. Therese (Parkville, MO) (July 1995-1996); Parochial Vicar, St. Therese (Parkville, MO) (July 1996 - October1997); Parochial Vicar, Christ the King (Kansas City, MO) (November 1997 - July 1999). He retired from parish ministry in August 1999 and began residency at the Jeanne Jugan Apartments of the Little Sisters of the Poor where he served as Chaplain (March 2000 – April 2013).

Father McCormack had a lifelong passion for the operas and for visiting Ireland from where his family originated. He is survived by his cousin Elaine (Brad) Clark and their children and grandchildren: Brad (Amy) Clark, Melissa Clark, Megan Burrows, Kade Clark, Tucker Clark, Breckin Clark, Bridger Burrows, and Wylie Burrows.