1931 – 2023 (September 15)
William Howard (Howie) McGraw, O.S.A., was born on March 19, 1931, in Watertown, New York, the son of Lawrence H. and Melina M. (St. Louis) McGraw. He had two sisters. He was baptized on June 28, 1931, at Saint James Minor Catholic Church, Carthage, New York. He attended Carthage Elementary School from 1935 to 1941 and Carthage Augustinian Academy from 1942 to 1948, completing his elementary and secondary education. He then served in the United States Army before and during the Korean War.
Howie was received into the Order as a novice on September 9, 1953, and after a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, New York, he professed first vows on September 10, 1954. He then went to Villanova University from 1954 to 1958 and received a BA in Philosophy. He did his theological studies at Collegio Santa Monica in Rome, Italy from 1958 to 1962, receiving an STB. He professed solemn vows on September 10, 1957. He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on April 7, 1962, in the Chapel of the motherhouse of the Vincentians on the Via Cola di Rienzo.
Fr. Howie returned to the United States in 1962 and was assigned to Saint Joseph Friary and Msgr. Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, where he taught modern languages from 1962 to 1968. During this time, he received an MA in Modern Languages from Villanova University. From 1968 to 1972 he was assigned to Augustinian College, Washington, DC, where he taught and did graduate studies at Georgetown University. From 1972 to 1994 he served in parish ministry in the Province: Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, Bronx, New York (1972-1973); Immaculate Conception Parish, Hoosick Falls, New York (1973-1978); Saint Joseph Parish, Greenwich, New York (1978-1980 and 1983-1988); Saint Patrick Parish, Cambridge, New York (1980-1983); Holy Rosary Parish, Lawrence, Massachusetts (1988-1994).
In 1994, with permission from the Provincial, Fr. Howie began the Marian Healing Ministry. While fostering this ministry in various parishes around the country, he was assigned to the following communities: Saint Mary Parish Friary, Waterford, New York (1994-1997); Saint Augustine Parish Friary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1997-2004); Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish Friary, Philadelphia, PA (2004-2018). And then to St. Thomas of Villanova Monastery from 2018 to the present. For those who knew him well, Fr. Howie was known for being jovial, kind-hearted and spiritual. He demonstrated a grateful spirit, especially for the people who cared for him at the Monastery. Fr. Howie passed away peacefully September 15, 2023 at the Monastery.
Funeral arrangements for
Fr. William Howard McGraw, O.S.A. are as follows:
Viewing and Funeral Mass:
Thursday, September 21, 2023
St. Thomas of Villanova Church
Villanova University Campus
800 E. Lancaster Ave.
Villanova, PA
9:00 -10:30 AM (Viewing)
10:30 AM (Mass)
Burial:
Following the Funeral Mass
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Calvary Cemetery
West Conshohocken, PA
