Our brother Robert L. McCreary, OFM Cap., died at St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. He was 89. Born on November 23, 1933 to Thomas and Cecelia (Wehrle) McCreary, he was baptized in his home parish of St. John the Baptist in Monaca, PA. Robert attended public schools until entering St. Vincent Prep High School in Latrobe, PA. He transferred to St. Fidelis College Seminary in Herman, PA, in 1951.
Robert entered the Capuchin Order in 1953, was given the name Conan, and professed vows on July 14, 1954. He made his perpetual profession in 1957 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 1959. He returned to his baptismal name when permitted to do so in 1968, and friars always called him Bob.
Bob earned his Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Catholic University of America in 1961. He pursued theological studies in Christology and Spiritual Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome and was awarded a Doctorate in Sacred Theology in 1963.
On his return to the Province, he was assigned to the faculty of St. Fidelis Seminary, and in fact, would devote virtually all of his ministerial life to the initial formation of our brothers in postulancy, novitiate and post-novitiate, excepting his six years in Provincial leadership.
Bob was first assigned in 1965 to Capuchin College, Washington, DC, as a professor of theology, spiritual director, and eventually as guardian. He also taught at Washington Theological Union until 1974, when he was appointed President of St. Fidelis College Seminary. With the Province's decision to close the college program in 1979, Bob guided the transfer of the seminary college program in Herman, PA, to Borromeo Seminary in Wickliffe, OH, with the faculty and staff of the Diocese of Cleveland.
Having served on the Provincial Council from 1970, our brother was elected Provincial Minister in 1980 for two three- year terms until 1986. After a well-earned year-long academic sabbatical at Notre Dame University, Bob began his work on our novitiate formation team at St. Conrad Friary in Allison Park, PA and was appointed Director of Novices in 1989.
Nine years later, in 1998, Bob was asked to return to Wickliffe, OH's college program and serve on the faculty of St. Mary Seminary there as an adjunct professor. Making his repeat rounds in formation 12 years later, he was again transferred in 2010 to Capuchin College in Washington, DC, where he served on the formation staff, remaining there until his need for medical care required his move to St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh, PA, in 2020.
Bob was a much-sought preacher and teacher. In addition to his assigned teaching posts, he spent time to offer courses at Carlow College in Pittsburgh, St. Teresa College in Winona, MN, Augustinian College in Washington, DC, the seminary in Papua New Guinea, and the Poor Clare Sisters in South Africa, among others.
He was a spiritual director to many, a popular retreat director, a chaplain for Teams of Our Lady, and a Spiritual Assistant to several communities of Secular Franciscans.
He was a member of the American Catholic Theological Society and the College Theology Society. Having worked on the study of the life and work of our Capuchin St. Lawrence of Brindisi as a student in Rome, he penned several academic papers on St. Lawrence’s Christology, which were published in Laurentianum, the Capuchin collection of academic work, At Notre Dame University he studied St. Bonaventure’s mystical theology. An intellectual and spiritual giant, Bob was humble and unpretentious.
Bob served in leadership at a pivotal time in our Capuchin life. He attended Capuchin General Chapters in Rome in 1968, 1974 and 1976 when our Constitutions were being reformed after the publication of Vatican II's Perfectae Caritatis which heralded the call to return to our Franciscan roots and adapt to the modern world. He was a member of the International Committee on the Capuchin Constitutions and the English editor of the 1974 Analysis of the Capuchin Order which was commissioned as part of our Order's work in reform.
Our brother's love for the Church, the Catholic faith and Capuchin life were manifestations of his great love for Christ.
He was beloved and admired by many and inspired them to follow our Lord. He always found ways to compliment others. He admired Capuchin missionaries, especially those who served in Papua New Guinea.
Bob had a special care, respect and appreciation for women Religious, many of whom found guidance and support with him. He also loved to engage and encourage young people in their hopes and aspirations.
Bob had a special loving bond for his family, always proud of their accomplishments while accompanying them through difficulties. His family was a great source of strength and affection, and they were devoted to him to the end.
Bob was proceeded in death by his parents; his brother Thomas and wife Patricia (Black); his sister Nancy and husband Ted McClain; and his sister Suzanne and husband Bud Cooley. He leaves to mourn numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his Capuchin brothers.
He was also preceded in his Transitus to the Lord by his cousin and our confrere, Robert E. McCreary.
His passing marks the loss of one of our brightest lights.
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Sunday, April 30 2023
Visitation
2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Our Lady of Angels Parish
St. Augustine Church
234 37th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Vigil / Wake Service
7:00 p.m.
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Monday, May 1, 2023
Funeral Mass of Resurrection
9:30 a.m.
Our Lady of Angels Parish
St. Augustine Church
234 37th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Burial will follow the Mass
in our friars' plot of
St. Augustine Cemetery
250 Wible Run Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15209
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Memorial donations to honor
the life of our brother Bob
may be made online
to the Capuchin Franciscan Friars
or to the address in the footer below.