John F. McCarthy, O.S.A.

1899 – 1949 (November 13)

John Francis McCarthy was born on September 16, 1899, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, to Michael McCarthy and Anne Daly. He spent two years at Saint John Prep in Danvers, MA., before entering Villanova Prep, Villanova, PA. He was accepted into the novitiate at Villanova on June 23, 1916, and professed simple vows on June 24, 1917. He was solemnly professed on November 26, 1920 and was ordained to the priesthood at Villanova by Bishop Michael Crane on September 22, 1923. 

From 1924 to 1935, Father McCarthy was stationed at Villanova Preparatory School, Ojai, California. He was prior and rector of the school from 1932 to 1935. That latter year he was transferred as an assistant to St. Mary’s, Lawrence, and in 1936 to St. Augustine’s in Troy, New York. Later, he served briefly at St. Augustine’s, and at St. Rita’s, both in Philadelphia. From 1943 to 1946, he was a chaplain in the United States Navy. He was commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant, second grade, and saw action in many places including Galapagos, Guadacanal, New Guinea and Saipan. After the war, he returned to St. Rita’s in Philadelphia.

Father McCarthy died at St. Agnes’ Hospital in Philadelphia on November 13, 1949 at the age of 50, of internal hemorrhages, the result of wounds incurred during the battle. His Funeral Mass was celebrated at Saint Rita on November 17th by Rector Provincial, John Sheehan, O.S.A. Father McCarthy was buried in the community cemetery at Villanova.