Charles A. Grady, O.S.A.

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1901 – 1981 (December 21)

Charles Augustus Grady was born May 4, 1901 in Waterford, New York, to Charles A. Grady and Agnes Morton. He was baptized on May 12, 1901 at Saint Mary’s Church, Waterford. After attending Waterford Public School No. 1 for seven years, Charles enrolled in St. Bernard Academy, Cohoes, N.Y., which granted him a high school diploma in 1919. He was received into the novitiate on June 27, 1920, and professed simple  vows on June 28, 1921, and solemn vows on June 28, 1924. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1924. He then pursued theological studies at Villanova College until 1928. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1927.

Father Grady was assigned in 1928 to Saint Mary’s Parish, Lawrence, Massachusetts, as assistant pastor. He became assistant at Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, in 1932, and in 1933 he was transferred to Saint Rita Parish, Chicago, Illinois.

In 1938 Father Grady was assigned to Saint Rita Parish, Philadelphia, Pa. He then served at Saint James Parish, Carthage, New York, from 1939 to 1941. He returned in 1941 to St. Mary Parish, Lawrence. After he was affiliated to the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel in 1946, Father Grady taught at Saint Rita High School, Chicago, until 1948. He returned to parish ministry that year, serving as assistant at Saint Mary Parish, Rockford, Illinois, until 1951, when he became assistant pastor at Saint Clare of Montefalco Parish, Chicago. He became assistant pastor and prior of Saint Matthew Parish, Flint, Michigan, in 1959, and served again as assistant at Saint Clare of Montefalco, Chicago, from 1965 to 1968.
In 1969 Father Grady retired from full-time ministry. He was transferred to Saint Monica Monastery, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, where he lived until the time of his death on December 21, 1981.

Father Grady was always willing to serve. Even in his advanced age, he would, without complaint, even eagerly, minister at parishes near Oconomowoc whenever help as needed. Father Grady was a kindly man, and people experienced this readily. He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.