Fr. Tom McEnnis, an Irish-born priest of the Archdiocese of Seattle, passed away in Arizona last Saturday at the age of 92. His Rosary is tomorrow, Tuesday, April 24, at 7 pm at Holy Rosary Church, 630 7th Avenue North, Edmonds, and the Funeral Mass is Wednesday at 11 am, also at Holy Rosary Edmonds.

 

A native of Milltown, Co. Galway, about 30 miles north of Galway City, Fr. McEnnis attended St. Jarlath's College, Tuam, and afterwards attended St Patrick's College, Maynooth, where he was ordained a priest in 1945 for the Archdiocese of Tuam. In 1946, he was sent "on loan" to the Diocese of Seattle when Seattle's Bishop Gerald Shaughnessy asked for help from the Archbishop of Tuam. Fr. McEnnis was later recalled to Ireland for a few years but ultimately returned to Seattle where he ministered until he retired.

 

During his years in the Seattle area, he was pastor in numerous parishes around the Seattle Archdiocese and was the founding pastor of St Bernadette Parish in Burien. He also oversaw the building of the new church at Holy Rosary in Edmonds, his last assignment before retirement to Sun City, Arizona, over 15 years ago. Even in retirement, he regularly returned to the Seattle area to help out in parishes during the summer months.

 

A boating and fishing enthusiast, he also had a lovely singing voice. But most of all, he was a good and kind pastor who was much loved by all who knew him. He was also very Irish and was always involved in the Irish community, helping with weddings, baptisms and funerals, or providing counseling or other assistance as needed. He was a good friend to Seattle's Irish community and will be sorely missed.

 

He is survived by three sisters, two brothers and numerous other relatives and friends.

 

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílse

May his faithful soul be at the right hand of God

 ______________

 

The Obituary Notice in today's Irish Independent

Share a Memory at Beck's Funeral Home