Rochester, NY, April 11, 2001
On April 11, 2001, Donald J. Mulchay,a married priest of the Rochester Diocese passed to his eternal reward. "DJ" to many of his friends and "Monsignor" to many others was 79 and had served the diocese for over 29 years. Don was ordained in 1946 and after several years of pastoral ministry, he began work with the Diocesan Catholic Charities office, eventually becoming its Director in 1963. In 1970 he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick's in Victor, NY but after nine months in that position he became Executive Director of Planning for the Diocesan Pastoral Council. In 1974 Don resigned from active ministry.
He married Carole in 1980 and moved to Washington DC where he worked as Director of Membership Services for the American Association of Homes for the Aging. Throughout his career, Don earned three masters degrees, was active in many socio/political groups, worked with Cuban refugees, and he and Carole helped start the married priest group in Rochester.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Anne's Home on April17th and was concelebrated by friends and classmates. Many married priests were in attendance
Catholic Courier
Donald Mulcahy; former priest, Catholic Charities administrator
Donald J. Mulcahy, a former diocesan priest who was director of diocesan Catholic Charities, died April 11, 2001, at Rochester General Hospital. He was 79.
Born in Rochester, Mr. Mulcahy attended St. Ambrose School, then St. Andrew?s and St. Bernard?s seminaries. He was ordained in 1946 by Bishop James E. Kearney. He served as assistant pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Rochester, from 1946-49.
He then became assistant director for Catholic Charities, serving from 1949-53. In 1953 he was named director of Family Services for Catholic Charities. In 1963 he became Catholic Charities director and Columbus Civic Center director. To prepare for his Catholic Charities duty, he had earned a master?s degree in social work at the National Catholic School of Social Service at Catholic University of America.
During his time with Catholic Charities, Mr. Mulcahy also served a term as chairman of Action for a Better Community. He was also active with Community Chest campaigns, and with the resettlement of Cuban refugees in the early 1960s.
In 1966 he was elevated to the rank of Domestic Prelate, with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor, by Pope Paul VI.
In 1970 he became pastor of St. Patrick?s Parish in Victor. He served nine months in what proved to be his only pastorate.
In 1971 he became executive secretary of planning for the diocesan pastoral council. He took a leave of absence in March 1974; resigned from the priesthood in 1975; and was dispensed from all priestly obligations, including celibacy, in 1976.
Sister Elaine Theresa Mulcahy, SSJ, recalled the day her brother met her for lunch, to say he was leaving the priesthood.
?He wanted to put me at ease. He told me he had met this woman, and I reassured him that I wanted anything that would make him happy,? said Sister Mulcahy, who resides at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse in Rochester.
Mr. Mulcahy married his wife, Carole, in 1980. He also served for 14 years as administrator for the American Association of Homes for the Aging in Washington, D.C., and retired in 1989.
Mr. Mulcahy?s funeral Mass was celebrated April 17 in the St. Ann?s Home chapel. According to Sister Mulcahy, numerous priests attended the liturgy ? including some who had resigned or who had otherwise become inactive. Interment was at White Haven Memorial Park.
In addition to his wife and sister, Mr. Mulcahy?s survivors include two other sisters, Betty (Jim) Keenan and Dorothy (Jim) Scheible; his mother-in-law, Rose Sehm; and nieces and nephews.
