+Fr. Murray McDermott, CR
- June 30, 1948 - August 28, 2026
The Congregation of the Resurrection announces the death of Father Murray Francis McDermott, CR on August 28, 2026, of Resurrection Manor, Waterloo, Ontario. He was 78 years old, in his 59th year of religious life and 50th year of ordained priesthood.
Fr. Murray is predeceased by his parents Frank and Shirley (nee Soehner) McDermott and brothers Barry and Kevin. He is survived and lovingly remembered by his brother Jeff and sister Sandra (Murray) MacDermott, nieces Jennifer (Mike), Laurie (Simon) and Bridget (Justin), and nephew Peter (Amber), and many great nieces and nephews and friends.
Fr. Murray professed his religious vows in the Congregation on August 22, 1968 in Dundas, Ontario and was ordained to the ministerial priesthood on May 14, 1977 in Kitchener.
Fr. Murray began his ministry as Associate Pastor at St. Louis Parish, Waterloo for 2 years. In 1980 Fr. Murray began his apostolic work at the Children’s Aid Society in Stratford, residing first at St. Aloysius Parish and later at Louis Hall. He became involved with Food for the Poor in 1988. Fr. Murray became a fulltime staff member of Children’s Aid Society in 1988 and devoted his life to helping the children and youth until his retirement in 2014. He was highly respected by the L’Arche Community and loved working/living with the people there. Fr. Murray was deeply involved in his religious community, he served on numerous committees and served as a Provincial Councillor. In 2012 Fr. Murray took over the role of Vicar Provincial and in 2014 was elected Provincial Superior. He then served as Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Kitchener and continued as Priest in Residence after he retired. He was also House Superior for St. Jerome’s University House, and recently was Chaplain for the Waterloo Knights of Columbus.
A man filled with hope, and rooted in faith and compassion, Fr. Murray’s life of service touched the lives of his brother religious, family and those he encountered during his life of dedicated ministry. Fr. Murray enjoyed filling in for weekend masses at our various parishes and at St. Jerome’s University Catholic Community. Fr. Murray was a man with a big heart when it came to those in need of compassion, his family and his community members. He loved going to plays/musicals and in particular the Stratford Festival. He enjoyed skiing, spending time at the Resurrectionist cottages and was devoted to his family members.
We wish to express our gratitude to Dr. Thomas O’Brien for his years of care.
Visitation of Fr. Murray McDermott, CR will take place at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 49 Blueridge Ave. Kitchener, ON N2M 4E2 on Tuesday, September 1 from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. A Vigil Prayer Service will be held at 8:00 P.M. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Parish at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, September 2. Interment will take place at Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener. Reception to follow at St. Francis of Assisi Parish Hall.
Donations in Fr. Murray’ memory may be made to the Congregation of the Resurrection for the care of their retired members or in support of their Tanzanian Mission and forwarded to 265 Westmount Road North, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G7 or on our website www.resurrectionists.ca or arranged through Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S. Kitchener, ON N2J 1P7, 519-745-8445, www.erbgood.com.