Monsignor Richard E. McCabe

Monsignor Richard E. McCabe passed away on September 12, 2009, after a brief illness. He was born on September 15, 1929, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1958 and moved to Lakeway in 1972. Monsignor served as pastor in several Catholic parishes and endeavored tirelessly throughout his priesthood to help the disadvantaged in Central Texas. His philosophy of caring is summarized by the motto on his business cards: "To comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable." He was the pastor of St. Theresa's Catholic Church, co-founded the Lakeway Ecumenical Church from its humble beginnings in 1963, and was the founding pastor of Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, Emmaus, in Lakeway as well as Queen of Angels Chapel in Spicewood Springs. A Certified Social Worker and Certified Chemical Dependency Specialist, he built or acquired thousands of units for low-income housing in Austin and Central Texas and established hundreds of beds at treatment centers assisting adolescent and adult addicts and alcoholics. He was instrumental in the founding of Caritas and of numerous St. Vincent de Paul organizations and thrift shops for the needy. In the '60s he orchestrated the Caritas Refugee Services, benefiting thousands of homeless Asian, European, and Cuban refugees. He was a founder of Catholic schools in Austin parishes as well as St. Michael's Catholic Academy and St. Gabriel's Catholic School in Barton Creek. In recognition of his contributions to the Austin community, he received many well-deserved accolades, including being named Most Worthy Citizen by the Austin Board of Realtors and Entrepreneur of the Year (Non-Profit) by Ernst & Young. He is survived by his brother, Dr. Robert McCabe of Milwaukee, and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be sorely missed by the many people he has helped over the years. His family and friends wish to thank the staffs of Austin Heart Hospital and Hospice Austin Christopher House for their excellent care during his illness. Mass of Christian burial will be held at Emmaus Catholic Parish in Lakeway at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2009. Msgr. Michael Mulvey, Administrator of the Diocese of Austin, will preside. There will be a Vigil Service and wake at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16, at Emmaus, with viewing beginning at 5:00 p.m. and continuing after the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Caritas, McCabe Fund for Emergency Assistance, P.O. Box 1947, Austin, TX 78767-1947.