Rev. Monsignor Andrew McGrath

Rev. Monsignor Andrew McGrath, the beloved and respected pastor of La Purisima Concepcion Catholic Church in Lompoc for 31 years, died September 27th in Los Angeles. He was 94.

Monsignor McGrath was born in County Waterford, Ireland on Oct 16, 1913 to Andrew and Hanora McGrath. He was a graduate of St. John's Evangelist Seminary in Waterford City, Ireland and ordained in 1938. Monsignor celebrated his 70th year of ordination to the priesthood June 16, 2008. He came to Lompoc as pastor in 1955 from Brentwood, California. In five years, he built a Catholic school, convent, and a church that would serve the growing Catholic community for many years to come. The 1920 church building he replaced became the parish hall. Over the years, Monsignor attended to the needs of his parishioners and adjoining communities and in 1968 he oversaw the building of Queen of Angels Parish and School in Mission Hills.

Msgr. Andrew McGrath's philosophy had been that places of worship should not only appeal to the spiritual and emotional needs of the people, but appeal to them artistically and intellectually. He believed that the beauty of the church should reflect God to the mind of the worshippers and influence their spiritual formation, thus giving them a tenderer concept of God their creator. The idea of having stained glass windows installed at La Purisima Church was conceived by Msgr. McGrath, with the overall theme of the windows to be the story of God their Creator. This was one of the last projects he worked on in the parish before his retirement in 1986.

After his retirement he returned to his home in Ireland, the country of his birth only to return to Lompoc, his home. He was well loved by his parishioners and respected as a very holy and dedicated priest. Following his retirement, he continued ministering to others and could often be found in the afternoon praying in the church he loved. His personal secretary and friend for the last 16 years of his life was Louise Deveny. Monsignor's health declined in recent years and he chose to go to Nazareth House in Los Angeles a little more than a year ago. He made his last trip to Lompoc in August to celebrate the 50 yr. anniversary of the La Purisima Catholic School in Lompoc that he not only built but supported throughout his time in Lompoc. Monsignor McGrath leaves behind a most grateful community of Catholics.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary McGrath, brothers, James and Michael and is survived by nephew, Andrew McGrath; nieces, Noreen Kearney, Maura Lennon, and Teresa Cliffe and a sister-in-law, Alice McGrath, all of Ireland.

Recitation of the rosary will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at La Purisima Concepcion Catholic Church followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m. with Rev. Tom Cook officiating. Most Reverend Thomas J. Curry, Auxiliary Bishop of the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region, will celebrate a mass of Christian burial Thursday at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery. A time of quiet and reflection will be one hour prior to the rosary.

In lieu of flowers, a special scholarship fund has been set up in Monsignor McGrath's name for La Purisima Concepcion Schools, 213 West Olive Avenue, Lompoc 93436.

Arrangements are in the care of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.