Father Donald Mccarthy

Rev. Donald Paul McCarthy peacefully passed away on Monday, November 27, 2017 at Mt. Joseph Senior Village, Concordia, Kansas.  He was 84 years old.
Fr. McCarthy was born in Galveston, Texas on June 8, 1933 to Edward and Ursula Celeste (Kidney) McCarthy.  He was the only child of Edward and Ursula McCarthy.
Fr. McCarthy attended Kirwin High School, located in Galveston, Texas and graduated in 1951.  He began his seminary studies at St. John's Seminary, San Antonio, Texas (1951-53) and completed his theological studies from Assumption Seminary, San Antonio, Texas (1953-59).  Fr. McCarthy's love for education led him to further his educational pursuits at Baylor University, Waco, Texas (1960-61); St. Benedict's College, Atchison, Kansas (1961-62) where he received a B.A. degree in History, Foreign Language, and Education in May, 1962.  Fr. McCarthy went on to complete a Master of Arts degree in Education (Secondary Ed. Major, Minor in School Administration and Guidance and Counseling) in May, 1965 at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.  He also attended Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, Doctoral Program in Education (part-time – 1965, 1966, 1968; full-time 1982).
Fr. McCarthy was ordained into the priesthood by Bishop Louis Reicher at St. Mary's Cathedral in Galveston, Texas on May 23, 1959 for the Diocese of Austin.  He was granted permission by Bishop Reicher to be incardinated into the Diocese of Salina on October 29, 1968.  Bishop Cyril J. Vogel was the Bishop of Salina also granting his incardination.  Fr. McCarthy retired June, 2009.  However, even in his retirement he continued his dedication to serve the diocese as a sports official for Kansas schools, Summer Lake Ministry at Glen Elder State Park, and was Chaplain at Mt. Joseph Senior Living Village in Concordia (2009-2017).  Fr. McCarthy faithfully served his vocation and diocese for over fifty-eight years.
Fr. McCarthy devotedly served in the Diocese of Salina in a number of parishes and schools.  His priestly appointments are as follows:  1962-63, Assistant Pastor at Seven Dolors, Manhattan, and Guidance Counselor at Luckey High School;  1963-65, Assistant Pastor, Sacred Heart Cathedral;  1963-70, Guidance Counselor and teacher at Sacred Heart High School in Salina;  1965, Assistant Pastor at St. Mary, Queen of the Universe, Salina; 1965-70, Pastor at St. Ignatius Loyola, Kanopolis, and St. Mary's, Holyrood; 1970-71, Pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Salina;  1970-72, Principal, Sacred Heart High School; 1971-72, Pastor at St. Patrick's, Gypsum, and Assistant Chaplain at St. John's Military School, Salina;  1971-2005, Diocesan Director of Scouting; 1972-82, Principal of Tipton Catholic High School in Tipton and St. John's Catholic High School in Beloit;  1973-75, Pastor at Sacred Heart, Esbon, and St. Mary's, Smith Center;  1975-78, Pastor at SS. Peter and Paul, Cawker City, and St. Mary's, Downs;  1978-82, Co-pastor at St. John the Baptist, Beloit;  1980-82, Pastor at Cawker City;  1982-86, Pastor at St. Patrick's, Ogden, Chaplain at Fort Riley; 1982-83, Guidance Counselor at St. Francis Xavier High School in Junction City;  1983-84, Principal at St. Francis Xavier High School;  1984-86, Superintendent at Manhattan Catholic Schools;  1986-89, Superintendent of Diocesan Schools;  1988-93, Pastor at St. Joseph's, Oakley;  1988-89, Principal at Oakley and Colby Catholic grade schools; 1989-92, Principal, St. Joseph's Grade School in Oakley; 1992-93, Pastor at St. Paul's, Angelus;  1993-2009, Pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Hill City, and St. Joseph's, Damar;  1993-96, Principal at Tipton Catholic High School;  1996-97, Principal at St. Mary's Grade School in Ellis;  1997-98, Principal at Sacred Heart Grade School in Colby;  2009, retired, moved to rectory at Cawker City; 1965-2015, sports official for Kansas schools: volleyball, football, wrestling, and basketball; 1975-1982; 2009-2017, Summer Lake Ministry at Glen Elder State Park; 2009-2017, Chaplain at Mt. Joseph Senior Living Village, Concordia.
One of Fr. McCarthy's greatest joys was to witness his good friend and fellow priest, Fr. Stanley Rother's beatification in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on September 23, 2017.  Despite his ill health he made the journey to Oklahoma to experience the beatification of his good friend. To quote Fr. McCarthy, "All of us are called to make sacrifices in life.  Maybe not the supreme sacrifices (Father Rother) did, but all of us need to realize we have duties and obligations we cannot run from."  Fr. McCarthy will always be remembered as serving his vocation to the last breath of his life and most importantly served God to his fullest.

Funeral services will be at 11 AM Monday, December 4 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Cawker City. A rosary service will be at 7 PM Sunday, December 3 at the Church. Memorials may be given to the Ursula Celeste McCarthy Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Cornerstone Foundation.