Passionist Father Columkille O’Grady, 66, died Aug. 19 at the Msgr. Bojnowski Manor, in New Britain, Conn. He was in the 47th year of his religious life and the 40th year of his priesthood.

Born Brian Stephen O’Grady on Dec. 12, 1943 in Dartmouth, Mass., to the late Michael and Bridget “Rita” (Dolan) O’Grady, he was the youngest of five children. After attending Holy Family High School in New Bedford, Mass., he began his religious studies at the Passionist Seminary in Dunkirk, N.Y.  He made his first profession to Passionist religious life on Aug. 15, 1964 at the St. Paul of the Cross Monastery in Pittsburgh.

During his formation he studied at St. Anne’s Monastery, Scranton, Pa; Immaculate Conception Monastery, Jamaica, N.Y.; and St. Michael’s Monastery, Union City, N.J., where he was ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 1971 by the late Passionist Bishop Quentin Olwell.

Father O’Grady devoted much of his ministerial career working in Passionist retreat houses, including St. Paul of the Cross, Pittsburgh; the former St. Gabriel’s Youth Retreat House on Shelter Island, N.Y.; Our Lady of Florida, West Palm Beach, Fla.; and the former Our Mother of Sorrows, West Springfield. He also served with the Passionist home missions in West Virginia. His final active assignment was as a parish mission preacher stationed in Westfield. During that time, Father O’Grady worked closely with the Catholic Communications ministry of the Springfield Diocese, serving as the regular Mass celebrant for the Passionist-founded “Chalice of Salvation” Sunday televised liturgy, as well as appearing in sacramental instruction videos that were produced and distributed nationally by Twenty Third Publications.

Throughout his ministry, Father O’Grady touched the lives of many, helping them understand the meaning of Christ’s passion as experienced through life’s trials and challenges. He came to understand suffering in his life in a very personal way when his only sister, Patricia, was killed at the age of 7 in a tragic accident while returning home from her first Communion practice.

He was well known for his care and love of gardens, with a special interest in orchids, which were a trademark of his presence in any Passionist residence.

Passionist Brother Terrence Scanlon, longtime host of the “Chalice of Salvation” television Mass, knew Father O’Grady for 46 years and lived in community with him in West Springfield and at the former St. Casimir Parish rectory in Westfield. Brother Scanlon told iobserve that Father O’Grady “loved working with the priests of the diocese and filling in for them so that they could go on vacations and retreats.”

Father O’Grady also ministered to parishioners in St. Casimir and St. Peter parishes in Westfield, Brother Scanlon said, and “was beloved by both congregations.”

Brother Scanlon also noted that when Father O’Grady was at home in Westfield, “He loved to do the cooking, loved to be a homemaker.” He said Father O’Grady also loved automobiles, especially Chrysler cars, and was an avid TV viewer of NASCAR races and golf tournaments.

Brother Scanlon recalled Father O’Grady as an outgoing person who also enjoyed quiet times of solitude. “He also had a dry wit about him and that came through on the ‘Chalice’ Masses he celebrated.”

On Dec. 31, 1998, while celebrating Mass, Father O’Grady suffered a major stroke which resulted in his early retirement from full-time, active ministry. Though he had limited mobility, he was able to return on a few occasions to celebrate the televised liturgy, his presence offering a powerful example of faith and determination to the viewing audience which itself was mostly homebound and suffering from infirmities.

In addition to his religious community, he is survived by his three brothers, Michael J. O’Grady of San Antonio, Texas, John D. O’Grady of Petersham, Mass., and Robert E. O’Grady of New Bedford, Mass. as well as many nephews and nieces.

Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 24 at Holy Family Monastery in West Hartford, Conn. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m., followed at 10:30 am by a Liturgy of Christian Burial.
Immediately after the liturgy a light lunch will be served at the monastery, followed by an afternoon committal service at the Passionist community grave site at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Springfield.

Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave. West Hartford, CT is handling arrangements.
Shauna Molloy  smollloy@molloyfuneralhome.com 860-232-1322

Donations can be made in Father Columkille O’Grady’s memory to the Passionist Retirement Fund, 526 Monastery Pl, Union City, N.J.

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