Father McNamara remembered for faithful service, example of dedication, love of priesthood

Father Peter McNamara, 1928 to 2009.

Father Peter J. McNamara, a priest of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, died Wednesday, March 11, in Zapata, Texas.

Father McNamara, 81, had suffered from health problems after having a heart attack in 2001 and because of his failing health, he recently moved into a nursing home.

Peter McNamara was born on Feb. 11, 1928 in Mace, Rathowen County, Westmeath, Ireland to James and Mary McNamra. He attended schools in Westmeath and studied as a seminarian at Holy Family Seminary, Overland, Missouri; St. Thomas Aquinas in Farmington, Missouri and St. Procopius in Lisle, Illinois.

He was ordained May 23, 1954 in Joliet, Illinois for the Missionaries of the Holy Family.

He worked in the Diocese of Corpus Christi and in 1972 he was released from the community to become a diocesan priest.

During his years of service to the diocese he was assigned to several parishes including St. Joseph in Corpus Christi, St Anthony in Robstown, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Tivoli, Christ the King in Laredo, San Isidro Labrador in Arteaga, Our Lady of Pilar in Corpus Christi, Our Lady of Lourdes in Zapata and St. Mary's in Freer.

A rosary was recited at Our Lady of Lourdes in Zapata on the evening of March 15 and a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there the following day by Bishop Edmond Carmody and concelebrated by Bishop James Tamayo of the Diocese of Laredo along with priests from the Diocese of Corpus Christi, the Diocese of Laredo and Mexico.

Many said they were influenced by Father McNamara's example, including Father Patrick Serna, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel in Banquete and Jaime Reyna of the diocesan Evangelization department.

"Basically, God used Father McNamara in a huge way to help me in my path to the priesthood," said Father Serna. "Father McNamara knew what he was about: His identity was totally centered around his priesthood." He continued that Father McNamara's "primary goal in life was to serve Jesus and the laity, he did not worry about public approval ratings or prestige."

Father Serna added that "Duty and love were the driving forces in Father McNamara's life." And while the late priest suffered heroically and, may have been "grumpy" about certain administrative things, "he never complained about his own personal sufferings in life. He was a prayer warrior, and Father always reminded those around him that he worked for the Boss in Heaven, he was answerable to nobody else."

Father McNamara's "straightforward sense of duty and love, when it came to his priestly life, impacted me greatly during my seminarian years, and that made all the difference," Father Serna said. "Underneath that gruff exterior, there was a humongous heart of love for God and people of all walks of life, his only desire was to serve God and God's people."

Reyna said he knew Father McNamara for 30 years and that the priest was "more Christ-like to me than anyone else I ever encountered."

He said Father McNamara had "a joyous smile that can make anyone else smile. He loved to play tricks on people and make them squirm a little out of fun. I don't know if it was his Irish character or if he just wanted to make people laugh, but he really enjoyed playing tricks. Father McNamara was very active with many of the ministries in his church. He always walked around trying to fix something, clean something, or just helping someone."

Reyna added that Father McNamara "never complained and took his priestly duties very seriously. He prayed daily. He also was focused when he prayed and celebrated Mass."

Although he was known for his hard work and quick wit, Reyna said, "all admired his devotion to his vocation and the love of the Mass. May we learn and live our life the way Fr. McNamara lived his life, giving our whole self to God and being the instrument for Him."