Msgr. Cornelius M. "Connie" McRae

Reverend Monsignor Cornelius M. "Connie" McRae

Msgr. McRae was born in Brockton on August 25, 1935, the youngest of Francis H. and Helen E. (Sheehan) McRae's three children. He attended Brockton schools and was a 1953 graduate of Brockton High School.

He was ordained on February 2, 1961 at Holy Name Church by the Most Rev. Jeremiah F. Minihan. He offered his first Mass on February 5 at St. Colman Church in Brockton. He attended the University of San Francisco where he earned a Master in Sacred Theology. He was also a member of the first Priest's Senate and Director of the Cursillo Movement from Nov. 24, 1975 to Dec. 14, 1978.

Msgr. McRae's assignments included: Sacred Heart, Natick from 1961 to 1962; Our Lady of Mercy, Belmont from 1962 to 1969; Faculty of St. John Seminary from 1969 to 1986.

On June 1, 1986, he was appointed rector of Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, serving there until June 1, 1995. The seminary turned 25 in 1989. Mass for the occasion with Cardinal Law took place on Wednesday, October 25 in the chapel. A convocation followed at Regis College with Archbishop Pio Laghi attending both events. Following this, Msgr. McRae was on the Faculty of North American College, Rome; from 1995 until 2000. Msgr. was named by the Holy Father "Prelate of Honor" in April of 1998.

On July 1, 2000, he was appointed pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Norwood, serving there for the next eleven years. His pastorate ended on May 31, 2011. Thereafter, he returned to Rome, becoming spiritual director for the Casa Santa Maria of the Pontifical North American College. On June 1, 2014, he returned to the faculty of St. John Seminary as spiritual director until June 1, 2018.

He celebrated his golden jubilee in February, 2011 and his 60th in February, 2021.

Msgr. McRae was senior priest, in-residence at St. Jerome, in North Weymouth from 2018 to 2021. This was his final appointment, and in 2021 he went to reside at Regina Cleri in Boston.

Msgr. Cornelius M. McRae passed away on Thursday December 19, 2024 in Duxbury at the age of 89. He is survived by nieces and nephews, Cornelius Linehan and his wife Janet of Norton, Mark Linehan and his fiancee Patricia Hoxie of Marshfield, Mary (Linehan) and her husband William MacQuarrie of Duxbury, Robert "Pete" McRae, Brian McRae and his wife Michelle, Kelly McRae and her husband Rob Tomaszewski, and Kevin McRae and his wife Michele, along with many other great nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Robert Francis McRae and his wife Nola, and Anne (McRae) and her husband John Linehan.

Visiting Hours will be held in St. Catherine of Siena Parish, 547 Washington Street NORWOOD, on Sunday December 29, from 4-7 PM, and again on Monday December 30, from 10-11 AM, prior to the Funeral Mass at 11 o'clock. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Brockton, on Tuesday December 31, at 10 AM, where he will be laid to rest beside his parents.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in memory of Msgr. McRae to St. Catherine of Siena Parish, 547 Washington Street, Norwood, MA 02062.