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IN MEMORIAM: MSGR. JUSTIN MACCARTHY

By LOU PONSI     1/28/2025

BY ALL ACCOUNTS, Rev. Msgr. Justin MacCarthy, pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in La Habra, was the epitome of a Good Shepard, once defined by Pope Francis as a devotee to the mission, not 50 or 60 percent, but with all he has.”

Msgr. MacCarthy, who died on Jan. 2 at age 85 after a lengthy bout with cancer, embraced his calling with passion.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated for the much-loved monsignor on Jan. 25 at Our Lady of Guadalupe with fellow clergy, parishioners, friends and loved ones in attendance.

Throughout his 35-year tenure as the pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and for years as pastor emeritus after his retirement in 2014, Msgr. MacCarthy served his not only his congregation, but the community at large.

Msgr. MacCarthy was ordained on June 14, 1964, and served as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe from 1979 to 2114. Scott Miller, director of outreach at Our Lady of Guadalupe and close friend of Msgr. MacCarthy, said the monsignor was a consummate leader who challenged people to be their best in service to the church and the community and always remained open-minded to all points of view.

A MASS WAS CELEBRATED ON OCT. 20, 2024, IN HONOR OF THE REV. MSGR. JUSTIN MACCARTHY, PASTOR EMERITUS OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, WHO SERVED AS OLG’S PASTOR FOR 35 YEARS. A CHALICE MODELED AFTER THE ORIGINAL “ARDAGH CHALICE” (HOUSED IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND IN DUBLIN) WAS DEDICATED IN HIS NAME. PHOTO BY YUAN WANG/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

“He was well respected,” Miller said. “La Habra has the most churches in Orange County. We have an interfaith ministerial association with all the pastors and people. He was so well respected by all of them. He encouraged me to be a part of it. He encouraged me to be there to represent our church. So, he was super supportive.”

Miller recalled the time when he and Msgr. MacCarthy were watching La Habra’s annual Corn Festival Parade, when the pastor noticed groups from several other churches in town walking in the parade.

“I said, why are we not in this parade,” Miller recalled. “All these churches are in the parade. And he looks at me and he says, ‘Well, make it happen.’ He led by example.”

When Msgr. MacCarthy encouraged Miller to do more community outreach, Miller started the Hillcrest Community Health and Wellness Center, which is now part of the La Habra Collaborative – a partnership among nonprofits, churches, businesses and the city that offer a variety of programs and services to underserved residents of the city.

“He was really pivotal in challenging me to set that up,” said Miller, who is now the executive director of the health and wellness center.

As official chaplain for the La Habra Police Department, Msgr. MacCarthy was called, often at a moment’s notice, to minister to residents who had been befallen by tragedy.

“He would respond in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning,” said longtime La Habra councilman Jim Gomez, a lifelong parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe. “He was just such a kind and loving man.”

Gomez and Msgr. MacCarthy joined together for dozens of civic and church celebrations throughout the monsignor’s tenure as pastor. The monsignor always sang “Danny Boy” at church celebrations, paying homage to his Irish roots. He was also beloved by OLG’s Hispanic congregants, who make up a significant percentage of the parish.

“He learned Spanish the best he could so he could communicate with them,” Gomez said. “The Hispanic community loved him dearly.

Msgr. MacCarthy was born Aug. 3, 1939, one of nine children, in County Limerick in Western Ireland. He attended the seminary at Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland. Prior to his assignment at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Msgr. MacCarthy served at St. Cyprian parish in Long Beach (1964-71), St. Monica parish in Santa Monica (1971- 75 ) and St. Irenaeus Parish in Cypress (1975-79).

For the 50th anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood, Msgr. MacCarthy expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity to serve at each parish.

“While it was my privilege to serve in these wonderful parishes, what I gave was nothing compared to what the kind people of these parishes have given to me by their goodness, sacrifices, love, friendship and commitment,” the monsignor wrote. “I have been enriched as a person and as a priest.”

His most joyous experiences included celebrating Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, studying for two months in the Holy Land and officiating at wedding ceremonies for family members.

“Now looking back over the past 50 years of priestly ministry, my first thought and reflections are of gratitude to Almighty God for the many graces and blessing of these past years,” he wrote.

In June 2024, the monsignor celebrated 60 years as an ordained priest and in October, Bishop Kevin Vann served as the main celebrant in a Mass celebrated in recognition Msgr. MacCarthy’s 60-year anniversary.

A replica of the “Ardagh Chalice,” considered one of the most sacred treasures of the early Irish Church, was shown publicly for the first time during the Mass and blessed by Bishop Vann. Dedicated in Msgr. MacCarthy’s honor.

Bishop Vann described the monsignor as a “real friend, a helper and a partner in so many ways.”