Please join us in Welcoming the 2026 Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade
Grand Marshal...
Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A.
Grand Marshal...
Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A.
Father Tom is an experienced teacher, administrator, retreat director and parish mission preacher.
He is a native of the South Side of Chicago. He grew up in St. Adrian Parish in Marquette Park. He received his elementary school education at St. Adrian School and high school education at St. Rita of Cascia High School. He graduated from Villanova University with a B.A. in Communication Arts. He also has a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Lewis University.
Fr. Tom entered the Midwest Province of the Augustinian Order in 1983. After completing his undergraduate degree and novitiate he professed simple(temporary) vows. He attended Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree.
In 1993 he made his Solemn Vows (Perpetual) as an Augustinian Friar and in 1994 he was ordained to the priesthood.
He did a pastoral internship at St. Clare of Montefalco Parish in Grosse Pointe Park, MI, and taught theology at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox.
Fr. Tom ministered for 21 years at St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago as a teacher, campus minister, Principal, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Fr. Tom ministered for nine years as the Vocation Director for the Our Mother of Good Counsel (Midwest) and five years for St. Thomas of Villanova (Eastern) Province.
Fr. Tom spent two years as the Augustinian Advisor to the Office of First- and Second-Year Initiatives - Office of Student Life at Villanova University.
Fr. Tom ministered in Rome as part of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization where he was named a Papal Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis in 2018. Father Tom spent two years as the Director of the Augustinian Marylake Shrine in King City, Ontario, and the Prior of the Marylake Augustinian Monastery.
Fr. Tom is currently in his 16th year as Vocation Director for the Midwest Province. Father Tom is the Director of St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel in Chicago, IL and the Director of Community Relations at St. Rita High School in Chicago. Father Tom is also the Prior of the Pre-Novitiate Community of St. Clare of Montefalco Friary in Chicago.
Father Tom continues to preach parish missions and lead retreats. You can find more information on his website www.frtommccarthy.com
He is a native of the South Side of Chicago. He grew up in St. Adrian Parish in Marquette Park. He received his elementary school education at St. Adrian School and high school education at St. Rita of Cascia High School. He graduated from Villanova University with a B.A. in Communication Arts. He also has a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Lewis University.
Fr. Tom entered the Midwest Province of the Augustinian Order in 1983. After completing his undergraduate degree and novitiate he professed simple(temporary) vows. He attended Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree.
In 1993 he made his Solemn Vows (Perpetual) as an Augustinian Friar and in 1994 he was ordained to the priesthood.
He did a pastoral internship at St. Clare of Montefalco Parish in Grosse Pointe Park, MI, and taught theology at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox.
Fr. Tom ministered for 21 years at St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago as a teacher, campus minister, Principal, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Fr. Tom ministered for nine years as the Vocation Director for the Our Mother of Good Counsel (Midwest) and five years for St. Thomas of Villanova (Eastern) Province.
Fr. Tom spent two years as the Augustinian Advisor to the Office of First- and Second-Year Initiatives - Office of Student Life at Villanova University.
Fr. Tom ministered in Rome as part of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization where he was named a Papal Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis in 2018. Father Tom spent two years as the Director of the Augustinian Marylake Shrine in King City, Ontario, and the Prior of the Marylake Augustinian Monastery.
Fr. Tom is currently in his 16th year as Vocation Director for the Midwest Province. Father Tom is the Director of St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel in Chicago, IL and the Director of Community Relations at St. Rita High School in Chicago. Father Tom is also the Prior of the Pre-Novitiate Community of St. Clare of Montefalco Friary in Chicago.
Father Tom continues to preach parish missions and lead retreats. You can find more information on his website www.frtommccarthy.com