From the Archives

Father Patrick George McNamee, a Benedictine monk at Sacred Heart Abbey and later Saint Gregory's Abbey in Shawnee, was truly one of the colorful pioneers who labored in Oklahoma for most of the early years of its existence.
 
Born in Rangoon, India, he was educated in England and France as well as Ireland. He loved to regale parishioners and brother monks of his service in the Royal Navy before he was ordained at Buckfast Abbey, England, in 1902. He quickly built a reputation as a powerful and dramatic preacher serving the Church in many capacities. As an educator, he taught music at Sacred Heart College and later for number of years at Saint Gregory's College. As a pastor, he served at Seminole, Konawa and Anadarko at Saint Patrick's Indian Mission. During the Second World War, he was a civilian chaplain at Fort Sill.
 
From this varied background emerges the portrait of a renaissance man. Bright, jovial and pleasant, it was a delight to be in his presence. With a flowing white beard and an Irish sensibility of never taking himself too seriously, Father Patrick toiled in the vineyards of mostly Oklahoma (with a short stint in Denison, Texas) for much of his priestly life. Always intrigued by current affairs both ecclesiastical and secular, he was a brilliant conversationalist who gladly voiced his opinion.
 
Described as a "happy priest," he was widely respected and beloved for his devotion to the Church and the people of God. He passed away on Aug. 8, 1954. Abbot Phillip Berning celebrated the Pontifical Requiem Funeral Mass at Saint Gregory's followed by burial at the abbey cemetery.