Bishop John McCarthy
1930-2018
Bishop John E. McCarthy, a Houston native and third bishop of Austin, died Aug. 18 at his home in Austin surrounded by his family. He was 88 years old.
A memorial Mass will be held at All Saints Catholic Church in Houston, the church where he grew up, 215 E. 10th St., Tuesday, Aug. 28, at 10 a.m. Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza will be the celebrant.
McCarthy graduated from St. Thomas High School and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston in 1956. He earned a master's degree in theology from the University of St. Thomas in 1979. McCarthy was ordained to the priesthood May 25, 1956 for the Diocese of Galveston-Houston and started his ministry as assistant pastor at St. Pius Catholic Church in Pasadena where he inaugurated a social ministry program at the parish. He served as assistant pastor at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, administrator at All Saints Catholic Church and as pastor at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Houston. He was executive director for the U.S. Bishops' Committee for Spanish-Speaking, assistant director of the Social Action Department for the U.S. Catholic Conference in Washington, D.C. and director of the Division for Poverty Programs for the U.S. Catholic Conference in Washington, D.C. He helped found the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, now the U.S. Bishops' major domestic anti-poverty effort.
McCarthy was consecrated auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston on March 14, 1979. In 1986 he was appointed the third bishop of Austin. Mass of Christian Burial was to be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 24 at St. Williams Catholic Church in Round Rock, Texas. The family respectfully recommends donations to the Bishop John McCarthy Memorial Fund, 6225 Hwy 290 East, Austin, TX 78723.