Reverend Howard W. McCormick, 80, retired Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, Agawam died Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Reverend McCormick, son of the late John B. and Mary J. (Moore) McCormick was born in Springfield on November 7, 1931. Raised in Springfield he was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1949. He studied Classics from 1949 to 1951 at Holy Cross College and went on to study philosophy and received his degree in theology from the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, Niagara University in 1957. Reverend McCormick then received his Master's degree in Religious Education from Fordham University in August of 1970. He was ordained by Most Reverend Christopher J. Weldon. D.D. Bishop of Springfield, on June 15, 1957 at St. Michael's Cathedral. Reverend McCormick served as curate at Holy Family Church in Holyoke from 1957 to 1961, St. Mary's Church in Orange from 1961 to 1968, and at Holy Cross Church, Holyoke from 1968 to 1969. He was appointed to Assistant Director of Confraternity of Christian Doctrine from 1968 to 1972 and then as Director of Confraternity of Christian Doctrine from 1972 to 1977 in Residence at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Ludlow from 1969 to 1977. He served as Pastor at St. Mary's Church in Lee from September 10, 1977 to July 1, 1994 and during this time the Mission of St. Francis of Assisi, South Lee was joined to St. Mary's Parish in 1992. Reverend McCormick was elected to the Priest's Senate from 1978 to 1981. He was then appointed to the Ecumenical Commission from 1980 to 1983, as Pro-Synodal Judge from 1982 to 1992, to the Budget Advisory Committee from 1984 to 1986, the Diocesan Building Commission from 1988 to 1991, the Bishop's Select Committee from 1991 to 1994, to the Episcopal Vicar of Berkshire Vicariate from 1991 to 1994, and to the Bishop's Commission for the Clergy from 1992 to 1996 and reappointed from 1996 to 1998. Reverend McCormick was appointed Administrator to St. John the Evangelist Church in Agawam from 1994 to 1995 and the Pastor from October 6, 1995 to his retirement on July 1, 2002. Reverend McCormick was appointed to the Episcopal Vicar of the Greater Holyoke, Hampden Central, and Hampden West Vicariate from 1996 to 1999 and the reappointed to Episcopal Vicar of the Hampden West Vicariate from 1999 to 2001. He was appointed to the Presbyteral Council from 2000 to 2002 and the in 2009 to 2011. Reverend McCormick resided at Sacred Heart Church for the past year. In addition to his parents, Reverend McCormick was predeceased by his brothers, John (Hotsy), Barry, Donald, Edward, James, Gerald, and Paul. Father Howard's later years were busy keeping the family records for the ever growing family which includes 28 nieces and nephews 63 great and 41 great great nieces and nephews. He was a mentor spiritual advisor; but mostly a loving and devoted uncle who never missed a birthday wedding, baptism, sporting event of his ever growing family. Reverend McCormick will lie in state at Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield on Sunday, August 5, 2012 from 4 to 7 p.m. followed by a Vigil Prayer Service at 7 p.m. A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Reverend McCormick will be celebrated on Monday August 6, 2012 in Sacred Heart Church at 11 a.m. by Most Reverend Timothy A. McDonnell, Bishop of Springfield. Rites of Committal and Interment will follow in St. Michael's Cemetery, 1601 State Street, Springfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in the memory of Reverend McCormick may be made to the Sacred Heart Renovation Fund, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104, to St. John the Evangelist Church, Parish Building Fund, 833 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001, and to St. Mary's School, 115 Orchard Street, Lee, MA 01238. Sampson Family Chapels of Springfield are entrusted with the arrangements. The family of Reverend McCormick is forever grateful for the care he received at Redstone Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
[Published in The Republican from August 2 to August 5, 2012]