Rev. Msgr. Maurice McCormick
Deceased: 2021-01-29
Diocese: SAN FRANCISCO
Seminary Graduation Year: 1959
CSM Graduation Year: 1964
Monsignor Maurice “Mickey” McCormick died on January 29th, 2021 at the age of 87 from Alzheimer’s disease complicated by COVID-19.
Father Mickey was born in Great Falls, Montana on February 8, 1933, one of 3 children born to Maurice and Dorothy (Sillers) McCormick. Father Mickey spent his early years enjoying the wilds of Montana and later moved with his family to San Mateo where he grew up and was raised in St. Matthew Parish with his younger brother, Kieran, and their sister, Rose Ellen. In 1951, after graduating from Junipero Serra High School, he began his philosophy studies at Saint Joseph College. Due to his exemplary work and attitude he was quickly recommended for theology studies in Rome at the North American College. In September 1955, Mickey traveled to Rome aboard the S.S. Constitution. He completed his studies, received his degree, and was ordained in Rome on December 20, 1958.
Father Mickey took up his first appointment in 1959 as Assistant Pastor of St. Joseph Church in Alameda. A year later, he was named Auditor of the Matrimonial Curia of the Archdiocese with residence at Mission Dolores Basilica. In 1961, he was chosen to study for his licentiate in canon law at Catholic University of America, Wash. D.C. In 1963 he was recommended to study and complete his JCD at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas – Angelicum in Rome, Italy and was able to experience Rome during the Second Vatican Council. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1964, Father Mickey served the diocese, his parishioners, and the Bay Area community faithfully and with enthusiasm in many positions over the next 40 plus years. Father Mickey was Assistant Pastor at St. Mary’s Cathedral and was also given additional responsibilities as an Auditor and Defender of the Bond of the Metropolitan Tribunal. He served as Chaplain of the St. Thomas More Society in 1967, and a year later was named Assistant Pastor at St. Anne of the Sunset Parish and Director of the Newman Center of San Francisco State College, with residence at St. Stephen Parish. In 1979, Archbishop Quinn appointed him Archdiocesan Director of Campus and Young Adult Ministry, and a year later, Spiritual Director of the General Secretariat of the Cursillo Movement for the Archdiocese, a position he held for over 40 years. Father served as Pastor of St. John of God Parish in San Francisco, while completing his doctoral studies in Ministry at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley.
In 1989, Father Mickey was named Pastor at Church of the Good Shepherd in Pacifica, and in 1997, he was appointed Pastor of Mission Dolores Basilica in San Francisco. In 2000 Father Mickey was chosen by Pope John Paul II as Prelate of Honor to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor. After six busy, successful years at Mission Dolores, and years on the Archdiocesan Stewardship Council and other responsibilities as assigned, Monsignor entered retirement on July 1, 2003. He remained at Mission Dolores till 2008, when he moved to Saint Cecilia Parish where he resided until 2015. Battling Alzheimer’s disease, in 2016 he moved to Aegis Living.
Father Mickey was ever-present in the lives of his parents, brother, sister, and brother-in-law. He was Uncle Mickey to his many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Early on, most Sunday evenings were spent at his parent’s home with the entire family enjoying time together and a home cooked meal. As the years went by and his extended family grew, he presided over many family weddings and baptisms, and could also be counted on for family holiday get togethers, including his nieces and nephews sporting events, musicals, choir concerts, dance performances and graduations. He traveled with family and friends around the US and abroad. He was loved by and cared deeply for his Southern California cousins.
Father Mickey was an avid Giants, Warrior, and 49er fan, and a long-time 49er season ticket holder where he had many friends.
Father Mickey was a people person. He cared deeply for his parishioners and all those he worked with in his many roles in the SF Dioceses. He inspired a generation of young people in his capacity as Director of Campus Ministry at San Francisco State University. In his work he was a leader and a community builder who displayed compassion, commitment, empathy, and a smile. He was a friend to all who knew him.
He will be greatly missed by his brother, Father Kieran McCormick, his nephews and nieces: Mike (Kathy), Pat (Susan), Colleen, K.J. (Janis), Kathy (Lee), Molly (Ben), and his twelve great-nieces and nephews: Rachel, Gaby, Ryan, Emily, Bridgette (Brandon), Kate, Evan, Sally, Mary, Matt, Mickey, and J.P. In addition to his parents, Father Mickey was preceded in death by his sister Rose Ellen and his brother-in-law Jerry Forbes.
All rites for Msg. McCormick will be livestreamed from St. Cecilia Church, San Francisco. In-person attendance is limited to family and invited guests in accordance with COVID-19 protocols. Vigil, Feb. 18, 2021, 5 p.m., Father Rene Ramoso, pastor, St. Cecilia Church, Presiding. Funeral Mass, Feb. 19, 2021, 11 a.m., Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, presiding, Msgr. Michael D. Harriman, homilist followed by Committal at Holy Cross Cemetery, Father Stephen H. Howell, vicar general, presiding.
Remembrances may be made to the Priests’ Retirement Fund, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco 94109.
