January 14, 2009

Priest enjoyed radio apostolate

Father Maurice John McInerney Jr., a priest of the Archdiocese of Denver, died Jan. 4.  He was 76.  He retired from priestly ministry in 1992 after serving the Church in northern Colorado for 33 years.

Fellow priests in his ordination class of 1959 knew Father McInerney as “M.J.”  They remembered him for his happy disposition, his love of people, his work with convert classes and his appreciation of music and liturgy. 

A Denver native, he was born Sept. 2, 1933, to Maurice John and Maud Esther McInerney. After attending Cathedral High School, he prepared for the priesthood at St. Thomas Seminary.  He was ordained to the priesthood June 6, 1959, by Archbishop Urban Vehr. 

Colorado Springs Bishop Emeritus Richard C. Hanifen, a seminary classmate of Father McInerney, described him as strong public speaker. He recalled that as a young priest, Father McInerney’s love of oration gave him a passion for radio.

When Father McInerney was assigned as assistant pastor at Annunciation Parish in Leadville, he took a part-time job as an announcer at a local radio station unbeknown to his pastor, Father Hamlin.

“I don’t know how long it went on, but one day Father Hamlin was driving out of town and turned on the radio only to hear his assistant on the air,” Bishop Hanifen said with a chuckle.  “He turned the car around, drove to the station and put an end to the budding second-career in broadcasting.”

Nevertheless, the priest’s love for speaking made him a good preacher, said the bishop.

Over his 33 years of ministry, Father McInerney served as assistant pastor at various parishes and as pastor at St. Catherine in Burlington, St. John the Evangelist in Loveland, Holy Apostles in Colorado Springs and St. Peter in Greeley.  In addition, he held positions as archdiocesan director of Catholic Telecommunications and director of Development for Radio and TV Apostolate.

“He always kept in touch with his people,” said Bishop Hanifen. “When I became a bishop I appreciated his human touch and always thanked him for that.”

A funeral Mass for the priest was held on Jan. 8 at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Arvada.  Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., was the main celebrant and Bishop Hanifen said the homily. Following the Mass, Father McInerney was laid to rest at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wheat Ridge.