Br. Patrick McCormack, OFM

Br. Patrick McCormack, OFM, passed away into eternal life at Queen of Peace Friary in Burlington, WI at 11:25 am on Sunday, October 27, 2024.  He was 73 years old.

Born to William and Marge (nee Sutton) McCormack in Milwaukee, WI on March 27, 1951, Patrick was baptized on April 15, 1951 at St. Sebastian Parish in Milwaukee.  He attended Mother of Perpetual Help grade school from 1959 to 1967, and graduated from Custer High School, a school noted for students having exceptional academic abilities.

It was a chance meeting at the Wisconsin State Fair that Patrick met Conrad Targonski, OFM, who had set up a Franciscan vocation booth in one of the pavilions.  After a period of Discernment at the pre-novitiate community known as Tau Fraternity in Milwaukee, Patrick joined the legacy province of The Assumption of our Blessed Mother Province.  As a novice at St. Mary of the Angels friary in Green Bay, WI, he was invested with habit on August 14, 1981 and made his first profession a year  and a day later on August 15, 1983 during the Feast of the Assumption.

Br. Patrick always had a heart for the poor and marginalized, and after profession, he joined several other friars who served at St. Elizabeth Community Center in Rockford, IL.  The center, which still operates today, did much to help the area poor with its various social programs and food distribution.

On August 8, 1986, Patrick professed his solemn vows as a friar minor, and returned to Tau Fraternity for studies at Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee, where he would pursue his undergraduate degree in Art and Religious Studies.

One of Patrick's many talents was his work with water colors, and his artwork could be viewed at various friaries within the Assumption BVM province.  While dabbling in abstract art, his best work was painting a variety of landscapes, noted for their soft tones of whites and browns.  Yet Patrick's artwork was not only noted on canvas, but his arrangements and decorative skills for liturgies and social events added to the festive nature of these celebrations.  He was also an accomplished cook, never intimated by the number for which he gladly prepared a meal.

Our brother served in a variety of ministries throughout his life, including teaching and being the Director of Development for Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia from 1989 to 2004, when the school was the country's largest Catholic high school.  From 2005 until 2015, he served at the provincial headquarters in Franklin, WI as Director of Communications and Development.

A huge shift occurred in Patrick's life when he went to be with the community of friars serving in Greenwood, Mississippi.  For the next 5 years, Patrick would teach the students a St Francis grade school art as he worked to set up a room specifically to meet that discipline.  The children, many who came from poor families, loved him, and he brought the best out in them with his compliments and art displays at the school.  Patrick was also involved with the school board and the parents' association, providing insights and ideas to help the financially struggling school stay afloat.

If there was one thing Patrick was noted for, it was his sardonic wit.  The students at Archbishop Ryan loved him for it, and while he could be brutally honest, he always had a kind heart for them, especially the underdog.  The honesty and wit would also be directed at his brothers in community, but everyone knew the soft heart he had.

Because of declining health due to cancer, Patrick was brought back to Wisconsin in November of 2020, living at Queen of Peace Friary until his death.  He embraced his pain with courage, always appreciative of any kind gesture shown him by fellow friars or the staff.

Our brother was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother Marjorie and sister in law Betsy.  He is survived by his siblings Mike, Ann, Tim and Peggy McCormack as well as nieces and nephews Angela(Dennis) Sampson, Michael (Emily) McCormack, Katie (Donnie) Jankowski, Becky (Sam) Mattox and their children Caitlin (Corey) Stokes, Ben and Will Sampson, Jacob and Tavish McCormack, Theo and Josh Jankowski, Lucas Mattox and Jordy Stokes.

Visitation Saturday November 9, 2024 at Queen of Peace Friary 2281 Browns Lake Road, Burlington from 10 AM until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM.  Interment Provincial Cemetery, Pulaski, Wisconsin.

May the soul of Br. Patrick, and all the faithful departed, rest in the peace of Christ.

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