The Capuchin Franciscan Friars of the Province of St. Mary mourn the death of their brother, Father Joseph McCarthy who after his battle with cancer, died peacefully on Friday, 11 November 2011 at St. Clare Friary, Yonkers, New York at the age of 77.
Fr. Joseph was born in Woodside, Queens on 09 May 1934. He attended St. Teresa the Little Flower Elementary School [1940-48]; Bishop Loughlin Memorial H.S. [1948-49]; and Glenclyffe High School in Garrison, NY, where he graduated in 1952.
Fr. Joseph entered the Capuchin Franciscans on 31 August 1952 and pronounced his first vows in Milton, MA on 01 September 1953. He began his philosophical studies first at Mary Immaculate Friary in Garrison, NY [1953-56], then at the new St. Anthony Friary, Hudson, NH [1956-57]. He was perpetually professed at St. Anthony Friary on 01 September 1956. Fr. Joseph studied theology at Mary Immaculate Friary from 1957-1961 and was ordained by Auxiliary Bishop James Griffiths on 25 June 1960 at Sacred Heart Church in Yonkers, NY.
Following his pastoral year at Sacred Heart, Yonkers, NY [1961-62], Fr. Joseph dedicated almost 50 years of his ministerial life in the service of Spanish-speaking peoples. Fr. Joseph had ministered at Our Lady of Sorrows in lower Manhattan as a parochial assistant on three occasions: 1962-1968, 1978-1980, and 2001-2002.
During his earliest years at Our Lady of Sorrows and while continuing his studies in the Spanish language, he would best be remembered for establishing one of the largest Schools of Religious Education in the Archdiocese of NY. Acknowledging his hard work and great accomplishments, in 1965, Fr. Joseph was appointed Regional Director for the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine for the entire lower Manhattan by the then Auxiliary Bishop-Elect, Terence J. Cooke. From 1969-1972, while residing at Our Lady Queen of Angels in East Harlem, Fr. Joseph was the Archdiocesan Coordinator of Hispanic Youth Programs.
Fr. Joseph devoted twenty-seven years as a missionary in Puerto Rico. From 1972-78 and again from 1980-2001, he served the people of San Miguel Parish in Utuado. In 1984, Fr. Joseph was elected Vice Provincial of the Vice Province of St. John the Baptist in Puerto Rico and served in that position until 1990.
From 2002-2006, Fr. Joseph developed a Hispanic out-reach ministry in connection with Capuchin Youth and Family Ministries in Garrison, NY, while residing at St. Joachim Friary in Beacon, NY.
In 2006, Fr. Joseph joined the fraternity of Saint Anne-Saint Augustin in Manchester, NH, assisting in the pastoral care of the parish community. On November 1, 2010, he began his residency with the senior friar community of St. Clare in Yonkers, NY.
Fr. Joseph was survived by two sisters: Suzanne Harries from Lawrenceville, GA and Muriel Gilleran from St. James, NY.
A wake service will be held at St. Clare Friary-110 Shonnard Place-Yonkers, NY [914-423-2392] on Tuesday, 15 November from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church-110 Shonnard Place-Yonkers, NY [914-375-8230] on Wednesday 16 November at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, you may offer donations to the Capuchin Franciscan Mission Association-210 West 31st Street-New York, NY 10001, continuing to financially support the Capuchin friars ministering to people around the world.
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