Lawrence James McNamara

Lawrence James McNamara (August 5, 1928 – December 17, 2004) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Grand Island in Nebraska from 1978 to 2004.

Biography

Early life McNamara was born on August 5, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, then went to St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. McNamara finished his education at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned a degree in theology.

Priesthood McNamara was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Missouri for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, on May 30, 1953, by Bishop Edwin Vincent O’Hara. He also held an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. He received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Grand Island on March 28, 1978, from Archbishop Daniel Sheehan, with Bishops Charles Helmsing and John Sullivan serving as co-consecrators.

After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, McNamara resigned as bishop of Grand Island on October 14, 2004. He died two months later on December 17, 2004, in Grand Island at age 76.