July 2, 2012
Marshfield, MA
Namara, Thomas H. Jr., of Marshfield, July 2, 2012 at the age of 81. Beloved husband of Margaret (McDonald) McNamara. Brother of the late Ann M. McNamara. Brother in law of Claire McDonald CSJ of Brighton and Philip A. McDonald of Arlington. Son of the late Thomas H. and Kathryn (Goff) McNamara. Thomas was born and raised in Danvers. He was a graduate of St. Johns Preparatory School and St. Johns Seminary 1957. Tom was a long time active member of CORPUS, a ministerial faith community. Thomas summered in Marshfield for his entire life before moving there permanently in 1984 with Margaret.
Thomas H. McNamara, Jr. was ordained as a priest in 1957 for the Archdiocese of Boston and served in several parishes as associate pastor. He was particularly interested in adult catechesis and earned a Masters Degree in Religious Education. He was quite active in the RCIA ministry following his 1973 marriage to Margaret McDonald, formerly a member of the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Archdiocese of Boston. They became active members of our CORPUS New England community. Tom and Margaret were part of our CORPUS Boston 1997 Conference planning committee which began work in 1995. Our theme was Pilgrims of Conscience, People of Hope and Tom exemplified that in his life as a married priest. He and Margaret proudly attended Cardinal Bernard Law's dinner and prayer gatherings with the resigned priests of the Archdiocese as the Cardinal sought to reach out in a fraternal spirit to his principally married colleagues while asserting that his hands were tied when he was invited on such occasions to do something about the law of mandatory celibacy.
They also participated in our quarterly CORPUS New England gatherings and our annual Palm Sunday and Christmas celebrations and retreat days and hosted informal gatherings at their Marshfield home on the ocean front. They also participated in the annual CORPUS national conferences until limited by health concerns. Tom was a very successful sales representative for a text book publishing company following his public ministry service for the Archdiocese of Boston. He will be missed. Of Tom it can truly be said: Ecce sacerdos magnus.