Patrick Joseph McGrath

Patrick Joseph McGrath ( ; June 11, 1945 – May 7, 2023) was an Irish-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as coadjutor bishop and bishop of the Diocese of San Jose in California from 1998 to 2019 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco from 1989 to 1998.

Biography Early life Patrick McGrath was born in Dublin, Ireland, on June 11, 1945. He was the youngest of three sons of Patrick Joseph McGrath, Sr., and Eileen Gaule McGrath. For secondary school, Patrick McGrath attended Chanel College in Dublin. In 1964, at age 19, McGrath entered St. John's Seminary in Waterford, Ireland. His father died while he was in seminary.

Priesthood In 1970, McGrath was ordained to the priesthood in Waterford at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity by Bishop Michael Russell for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco Pope John Paul II appointed McGrath as an auxiliary bishop of San Francisco and titular bishop of Allegheny on December 6, 1988. He was consecrated on January 25, 1989, at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco. Archbishop John R. Quinn served as his principal consecrator.

Bishop of San Jose John Paul II named McGrath as coadjutor bishop of San Jose on June 30, 1998. When Bishop Pierre DuMaine retired on November 27, 1999, McGrath automatically succeeded him. However, facing criticism about the purchase, McGrath said a day later that the parish would sell the house and he would eventually retire in a parish rectory instead.

On October 23, 2018, McGrath released a list of 15 priests with credible allegations of sexual abuse against minors. As part of the investigative process, McGrath held several listening sessions with individuals impacted by the alleged crimes.

Retirement and death Before having reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 for bishops, McGrath submitted his letter of resignation as bishop of the Diocese of San Jose to Pope Francis.