Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

 

 

Deacon William McGann, III - 1944~2023

Posted on June 01, 2023 in: News

Deacon William McGann, III - 1944~2023

Commander William H. (Bill) McGann III, 79, of Gales Ferry, Bill passed away peacefully of natural causes at Yale New Haven Hospital on May 30, 2023. He was visited in his final hours by his daughters Sarah and Amy and was attended by a Catholic chaplain. 

Bill was born on March 20, 1944, in Cincinnati, Ohio to William H. McGann Jr. and Mary Ann Fritz McGann. A graduate of Saint Augustine High School in San Diego, California, Bill went on to matriculate in the Class of 1966 at the University of Notre Dame, where he had a distinguished academic career in the School of Engineering and trained as a Midshipman in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC). In his final week at Notre Dame, Bill began dating Sheila Claire Brennan, a student at the neighboring St. Mary’s College in South Bend.  They were married on the Notre Dame campus in Sacred Heart Church.  Bill and Sheila have been married for almost 56 years, she survives him.

Bill served with distinction in the United States Navy for 26 years, earning the rank of Commander and the respect of all who served with him. Early in his career, he interviewed successfully with the legendary Admiral Rickover, the “Father of the Nuclear Navy,” and was admitted to the nuclear submarine force, serving on and eventually commanding Fleet Ballistic Missile class submarines after graduating from Nuclear Power School. He served his first tour on the USS George C. Marshall (Blue), continuing on to the USS Tullabee, as Navigator on the USS Cavalla, as the Executive Officer of the USS Skipjack, and finally as the Commander of the USS George Washington. At the end of his Naval career, Bill calculated that he has spent a full six years of his life submerged. Based for most of Bill’s career in the Navy town of Gales Ferry, CT, Bill and Sheila both played important roles locally during his time in uniform, caring for Navy families in need and setting an unimpeachable example of leadership and service to their country and their community.

Bill’s life was defined by service, as much after his career as in the course of it. He studied to become a Deacon in the Diocese of Norwich, was ordained in 2005, and served the congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes and the wider communities of Gales Ferry and Ledyard with a kind, thoughtful, and faithful approach to his work. Bill was a scholar at heart, and his deep understanding of the Catholic faith combined with his unrivaled experiences of life and leadership made him an exceptional Deacon. He brought this same scriptural knowledge and deft human touch to his work as a Catholic Chaplain at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, offering hope, solace, kindness, and consolation to countless patients and families. Bill retired for a second time from his volunteer duties in order to care full-time for his daughter Jenny, in partnership as always with his beloved wife.

Bill was also proud to be an active member with 30 years of continuous service with the Knights of Columbus. He was a 4th Degree Knight with an Honorary Life membership and served as Grand Knight and District Deputy. He also was a life member of Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine Council #7054.

Besides his loving wife Sheila, he is survived by daughters Jenny McGann, Commander Sarah McGann (USN) and her husband Scott Bell, Amy Geddes and her husband Tom Geddes, grandchildren Nathalia, Isaac, Lauren, Elizabeth and Evelyn, as well as siblings Patricia McGann, Geraldine McGann, Timothy McGann and his wife Kathy, and Dr. Kathleen McGann.

Visitation will be held Monday, June 5, 2023, from 9:30 am to 10:45 am immediately followed by an 11:00 am Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 1650 CT 12 in Gales Ferry. Full Military Honors will be rendered after Mass. The interment will be in Buffalo, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s honor to Navy Marine Corp Relief Society, Attention: Development, PO Box 25, Building 83, Submarine Base New London, Groton, CT 06349 or Diocese of Norwich Catholic Charities, 331 Main Street, Norwich CT 06360.


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

Remembering September 11th- Mercies in Disguise
Sometimes, the best stories come from unexpected moments of inspiration. Recently, I had a unique experience attending Mass at St. Columba in Columbia. Originally, I hadn't planned on going there; the church I regularly attend had canceled the early Mass for the summer. At the same time, I was struggling to find a topic for this month's Four County Catholic article. Writer's block had hit me hard, and the deadlines were looming. During the Communion meditation, something remarkable happened. My eyes caught sight of a large plaque on the wall listing the corporal...

Read More

An Update on the Status of Fulton Sheen’s Beatification Cause
“Sheen is clean.” That’s the message from Monsignor Jason Gray, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation, regarding the status of the cause for beatification of “America’s bishop,” the late televangelist Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. “I think it’s safe to say that I don’t think any cause for beatification has been subjected to more scrutiny than Archbishop Sheen, both ecclesiastically and civilly,” Gray said in an Aug. 24 interview on “The World Over with Raymond Arroyo.&rdqu...

Read More

Youth and Family Explosion

Posted on August 24, 2023 in: News, Events

712

Youth and Family Explosion
The Family and Youth Explosion will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. December 3 at Mercy High School in Middletown with speaker, song writer and musician Jesse Manibusan.   Jesse has that knack to build instant rapport, connect to his audience, and create life-giving memories that help deepen faith and cultivate the joy that inspires service, sacrifice and the celebration of life. He works with any and every age group, so everyone is invited to attend!  Tickets will be $5 per Person, $25 for a family or $4 per person for a youth group. For more information...

Read More

Respect Life: Immigration

Posted on September 14, 2023 in: News, Hispanic Ministry

576

Respect Life: Immigration
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me” (Mt 25:35-36).   Pope Francis, in his message for the 2023 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, writes, “These words are a constant admonition to see in the migrant not simply a brother or sister in difficulty, but Christ himself, who knocks at our door.” The Church has celebrated World Day of Migrants and Refu...

Read More

Bold Faith - The Power of Catholic Evangelization Through Storytelling
Do you remember the last time you heard a good story? It’s easy to become captivated by a compelling narrative or a fascinating myth. From novels or warm conversations over dinner to movies or even music, stories capture our imagination and shape the way we think about the world. As Catholics, we are confronted by a host of narratives that compete with, and often contradict, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We know, however, that God has revealed the true story of the whole world. The story of Christ is, as C.S. Lewis put it, “the true myth.” Jesus isn’t ...

Read More

Clergy Appointments

Posted on September 20, 2023 in: News, Vocations

535

Clergy Appointments
September 20, 2023 The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D. D., Bishop of Norwich, has made the following clergy and diocesan appointment in the Diocese of Norwich   Reverend Marvin Bearis, OFM Cap., to Saint Pius X Parish, Middletown, Pastor. Effective:  September 1, 2023.      Reverend Peter J. Langevin, Chancellor    

Read More

Annual Fundraiser

Help Us Spread the Word with Your Gift

Your 100% tax deductible gift will help us continue to bring the gospel message and the news of the diocese to the faithful throughout eastern Connecticut and the world. Your generosity helps defray the production costs of our print, online, and email newsletter editions of the Four County Catholic, as well as enhancing our Social Media presence. 
 

For those who would rather mail their gift click here.

 
Signup for Weekly Newsletter


    Recently Added Galleries
    Click to view album: Rite of Election
    Click to view album: Mass of Ordination  for Fr. Jacob Ramos
    Click to view album: Mass of Ordination for Father Lawrence Barile
    Click to view album: Palm Sunday
    Latest Articles
    Awakening: How is the Holy Spirit at work in your life? 
    Video: Come See the Relics of the Saints at the CT Catholic Men's Conference Sept. 23
    Monthly Pro-Life Mass to be Held Oct. 7
    Clergy Appointments
    National Migration Week Highlights “Overlooked Right” Not to Migrate
    Respect Life: September Prayer Guide
    40 Days for Life to Start with Mass Sept. 26
    Calendar of Events

    Annual Catholic Appeal

    ACA DONATE

    English

     

    Español

     

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294