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 Reverend Philip McNamara  Reverend Philip McNamara
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Obituary for Reverend Philip D McNamara

 Reverend Philip D  McNamara
SHREWSBURY- Reverend Philip D. McNamara, Retired priest with the Worcester Diocese, formerly of Clinton and a resident of the Southgate Community in Shrewsbury died Wednesday November 2, 2016 in the Christopher House in Worcester. He was 93 years old.

He was born in Boston on August 30, 1923 son of the late Michael and Catherine (McPhee) McNamara. He studied at Clinton High School, St. Charles College and the Seminary of Philosophy, Montreal. He completed his studies for the priesthood at the Grand Seminaire De Montreal in Quebec, Canada.

He was ordained by Bishop John J. Wright at St. Paul’s Cathedral on May 18, 1950. Fr. was appointed associate pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Whitinsville; Our Lady of the Rosary in Clinton and St. Joseph Parish in Leicester, before becoming a U.S. Air Force Chaplain in 1954.

Upon his return from the service in 1957, Father McNamara was appointed an associate pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Leicester until 1961, when he was named an assistant director of Catholic Charities. Fr. McNamara studied and graduated the Boston College School of Social Work in 1964.

On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1968, he was granted a leave for service with the Catholic Relief Services on the refugee aid team in South Vietnam. He returned to Catholic Charites in 1969 before being appointed as pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Clinton, on February 28, 1970.

In 1973, again he was granted a leave to return to CRS as the director. Serving in Cambodia until 1974. While stationed in Cambodia, he was awarded the Medal of Commander of Sowathara by Cambodian President Lon Nol just before his departure from Southeast Asia in July of 1974.

From 1975 until 1979 Father McNamara was assistant director and interim director of Catholic Charities and again returned to CRS. Serving in Thailand and Lebanon from 1979. He returned in 1982 to resume his duties as assistant director of Catholic Charities, where he remained until his retirement on August 1, 1993.

Father McNamara leaves a very close large extended family, including nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews who loved him very much and will miss him deeply; he also leaves his religious family, of many fellow priests and his caretaker in the last few months Sister Mary Ann. He was predeceased by his five brothers, James, Leonard, Joseph, Edmund and William.

Fr. McNamara will lie in honor on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 from 4:00-7:00pm at St. Mary’s Church, 640 Main Street, Shrewsbury. A wake service will be conducted at 7:00pm. A con-celebrated funeral Mass will be on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 11:00 am in St. Mary’s Church, 640 Main St where the Most Reverend Bishop Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester will be the Principal Celebrant. Burial will follow in Saint John’s Cemetery, Worcester. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Clergy Benefit Fund, P.O. 498 No. Uxbridge, MA 01538.







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