Rev. Patrick McCool, O.S.B., entered eternal life on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at the age of 86. He had completed 65 years of monastic profession and 59 years of priestly ministry.
Father Patrick was born in St. Louis, MO, on July 30, 1936, and lived until age thirteen at St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Eldorado, KS. He then became the beloved adopted son of James and L.C. “Elsie” (Feist) McCool of Wichita, KS. He graduated in 1954 from St. Gregory’s High School in Shawnee, OK, and from St. Gregory’s College in 1956.
Fr. Patrick professed temporary vows as a monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey on July 11, 1957. He then earned a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from St. Benedict College in Atchison, KS, and completed theological studies at St. Gregory’s Abbey. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1963. Following his ordination, he completed a master’s degree in English at the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Library Science degree at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Fr. Patrick served at St. Gregory’s Abbey as prior of the community under three abbots, and for several terms as a member of the Abbey Senior Council. He served at St. Gregory’s College and University as Residence Hall Director, Instructor of English, and as Assistant Director and Director of the institution’s James J. Kelly Library. He was the founding sponsor of Knights of Columbus Council 5354 at St. Gregory’s College, serving as Chaplain and Financial Secretary. He served as State Chaplain of the Oklahoma Knights of Columbus from 1983 to 1993.
Fr. Patrick served as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, McLoud, OK, from 1971 to 1976. In 1979 he was assigned to assist with Catholic services at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, OK, “for a few weekends.” This temporary duty lasted for nearly forty years. Commuting from the Abbey as many as seven days a week, he celebrated Mass, performed baptisms, heard confessions, provided pastoral counseling, celebrated weddings and conducted funerals. In 2001, Pope St. John Paul II bestowed upon him the Cross of Honor “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” in recognition of his faithful service to military personnel and their families. Fr. Patrick completed his tenure of service at Tinker AFB in 2018.
When the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease limited his public ministries, he continued to participate actively in nearly all aspects of daily life at St. Gregory’s Abbey. After a brief stay at Golden Rule Nursing Home near Shawnee, Fr. Patrick returned to the monastery, where he died peacefully on the 29th anniversary of the death of his beloved mother.
Fr. Patrick is survived by the monks of St. Gregory’s Abbey, several cousins and numerous grateful former students, parishioners and friends. Mass for Christian Burial was held at St. Gregory’s Abbey December 19, 2022.
