Athanasius McInerney, OFM

1919 – 1979

Fr. Athanasius McInerney, OFM, was born June 21, 1919 in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was the eldest of three boys, all of whom joined Holy Name Province. After graduating from St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., he entered the novitiate in 1940, professing temporary vows one year later. Fr. Athanasius made his solemn profession in 1944 and was ordained in 1946.

He devoted most of his Franciscan life to the support and animation of Holy Name missionaries, working tirelessly with the Franciscan Missionary Union from 1947 to 1976. Fr. Athanasius served as promoter of the FMU for 17 years and served two terms as Provincial Councilor from 1967 to 1973.

Because of illness, Fr. Mac resigned as FMU promoter and went to St. Anne Parish in Fair Lawn, N.J., as an assistant in 1976. There he discovered a new ministry as a parish priest who visited the sick, was a frequent visitor to the school children and served as moderator for the Secular Franciscans.

He died on Feb. 8, 1979 in the Fair Lawn friary. Fr. Athanasius was 59 years old, a professed friar for 37 years and a priest for 32 years.