Submitted by: Dan Rich

Most Rev. Mark G. McGrath CSC

Feb. 10, 1924 - Aug. 3, 2000

South Bend Tribune 8/6/2000

Most Rev. Mark G. McGrath, CSC, 76, the retired Archbishop of Panama, died following a long illness on Thursday, Aug. 3, in the Panama City Hospital, Republic of Panama.

Archbishop McGrath was born on Feb. 10, 1924, in Panama.

While studying at the University of Notre Dame, he entered the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1942. He made his first profession of vows on Sept. 21, 1943. Following undergraduate studies at Notre Dame and theological studies at Holy Cross College in Washington, D.C., he was ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1949. In 1953 he received a doctorate in theology from the Angelicum in Rome.

Following studies, Archbishop McGrath served in Holy Cross' institutions in Chile from 1953 to 1961. He was the rector of Holy Cross Seminary in Santiago, a teacher and the Prefect of Religion at St. George's College, a professor of theology and later Dean of Theology at Catholic University of Chile.

On Oct. 8, 1961, he was ordained Auxiliary Bishop to the Archbishop of Panama. He was a member of the Second Vatican Council, and served the Panamanian Conference of Bishops in various capacities. He was appointed the first Bishop of the Diocese of Santiago de Veraguas in 1964. In 1969 he was named the Archbishop of Panama.

Throughout his career Archbishop McGrath received many Vatican appointments. He was awarded eight honorary doctorates, including one from the University of Notre Dame where he served as a trustee. In 1994 the government of Panama awarded him the National Medal of the Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero. He retired in May 1994 and continued to serve as Archbishop Emeritus until his death.

Archbishop McGrath is survived by several nieces and nephews, both in the United States and Panama.

Visitation will take place on Monday morning, Aug. 7, in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama in the Republic of Panama. The Funeral Mass of the Resurrection will also be held in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama. Interment will follow the Mass in Panama City, Panama, Republic of Panama.