Obituary of Monsignor Frank Charles McGrath

Monsignor Frank C. McGrath passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the age of 78 in Naples, Florida. He was born in New Britain, Connecticut, on July 20, 1944, and was raised in Stratford, Connecticut. After being educated in the Bridgeport area, he decided to pursue the priesthood. He attended St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Connecticut, and Saint Mary Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Bridgeport by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis at Saint Augustine Cathedral in Bridgeport on May 9, 1970.

After his ordination, he served in several parishes until in 1977, he was granted a leave of absence to serve as chaplain to the International Charismatic Renewal in Brussels, Belgium, an organization founded in response to a request from Cardinal Suenens to bring the Charismatic Renewal to Europe. In 1980, this team moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Msgr. McGrath served the Word of God Community and was the first Pastor of Christ the King Catholic Center.

In 1993, Msgr. McGrath returned to the Diocese of Bridgeport, where in addition to serving as Pastor of the Church of the Assumption, Westport, Our Lady of Peace in Stratford and Saint John in Darien, he worked as Clergy Personnel.

In 2014, Thomas Monahan, Chairmen and Founder of Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Florida, invited Monsignor McGrath to serve as the Chaplain of the School. Bishop Frank Caggiano agreed to this request and in September of that year, Monsignor began his work in Florida, which he continued until his passing.

In 2007, Monsignor McGrath was named Chaplain to His Holiness. He had a particular devotion to providing spiritual support to the men and women of the fire service. He served as chaplain to the Westport Fire Department, the Noroton Fire Department and Rescue 1 in New York City. He spent many hours providing spiritual consolation to those working on the Pile after the collapse of the Twin Towers in 2001.

Msgr. McGrath is survived by several aunts, and cousins.

Msgr. McGrath's body will be received at Saint Matthew Church, Norwalk on Monday, June 19, at 3:00 p.m. and will lie in repose until 7:00 p.m. At 7:00 PM, Mass will be celebrated for the repose of Monsignor McGrath's soul. The principal celebrant will be Msgr. Robert Kinnally, Vicar General. Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will celebrate the Funeral Mass on Tuesday, June 20, at 11:00 a.m.  Interment will be in the Priests' Circle of Saint John Cemetery in Norwalk.