April 1, 2013
Monsignor Thomas McGread
Monsignor Thomas McGread He was born on Dec. 5, 1928, in Armagh Co., Tyrane, Ireland, and studied for the priesthood at All Hallows College, Dublin, Ireland, where he was ordained on June 21, 1953. Four months later Msgr. McGread began his work for the Diocese of Wichita as an associate at St. Patrick Parish in Parsons. He served as an associate at St. Anne and St. Jude parishes through the late 1950s and early 1960s before being named pastor of St. Joseph, South Mound, with St. Ambrose, Erie, as a mission in 1963. Msgr. McGread returned to Wichita in 1965 as pastor of the Church of the Resurrection. He was named pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in 1968, where he would remain until his retirement in 1999. He was named Prelate of Honor to his holiness Pope John Paul II on March 4, 1998, and at that time took the title of monsignor. Msgr. McGread served on several boards throughout his 46 years of service to the diocese. Msgr. McGread was known throughout the United States for his work in Catholic stewardship and was instrumental in the adoption of the stewardship way of life for the Diocese of Wichita. He is buried in Resurrection Cemetery in Wichita.