It is with heavy hearts that we express our sympathy in sharing the news of the passing of Fr. Thomas McDermott, C.S.C., which occurred on July 20, 2024. His journey began in St. Louis, Missouri, after which he came to East Africa and dedicated his life to serving humble communities in Dandora, spreading God’s love to the people of East Africa and beyond. He later moved to Uganda, where he was involved in educating in the faith at Holy Cross Lake View, where he is fondly remembered with a house named after him, “McD House.”
Fr. McDermott was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 26, 1950, the first-born son of Thomas and Barbara (Keck) McDermott. He attended Blessed Sacrament and Christ the King Grade Schools and Griffin High School in Springfield, Ill. In the Fall of 1968, he entered the University of Notre Dame and graduated in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in theology. Courtesy Photo
Fr. McDermott has a long and impactful history with the Province of East Africa. He professed his Final Vows on August 4, 1978, at the Holy Cross Community House on Lake Saaka, Uganda. In 1982, he returned to East Africa and resided in Dandora, Nairobi, Kenya, where he served as Director of the first Holy Cross Formation Program in the region. He also worked as an assistant pastor at Holy Cross Parish, Dandora, and served as Director of Youth Ministry for the Eastlands Deanery of Nairobi, leaving a lasting impact on the community. In Uganda, he lived at Kyabazinga House in Jinja. His dedication to educating in the faith was commendable.
Besides his work in formation, he played a significant role in helping young men understand their call to religious life, including recommending them to Holy Cross. One of the individuals he recommended, who is now the president of Holy Cross Family Ministries, is Fr. Fred Jenga, C.S.C.
In his last days, Fr. McDermott served as a missionary in Bangladesh, as an educator at Notre Dame University of Bangladesh.
🕯 Wake: July 25, 2024, 7:30 p.m. EDT, St. Joseph Chapel, Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, IN.
⛪ Funeral Mass: July 26, 2024, 3:30 p.m. EDT, Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, IN. Live stream available.
Please join us in prayer for the repose of his soul. We shall have a full story from one of the pioneer missionaries about his life and work in the province. For more details… honoring his missionary work and his commitment to God’s calling: Here is a message that came in through a leader of McD house on how this news broke the hearts of young people who have found family in McD house at Holy Cross Lake View:
CONDOLENCE MESSAGE TO THE CONGREGATION OF HOLY CROSS FOR THE SUDDEN LOSS OF FR. TOM McD
We, as the family of MCD HOUSE in HOLY CROSS LAKE VIEW SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL, join the entire Congregation of Holy Cross, together with all the friends, to pay tribute to our fallen house hero FR. Tom McD. The legacy, passionately lived, will as well be passionately served by all of us who emulate your example, just as our founder Blessed Basil Moreau stated, “We are in the work of the resurrection.” FR. Tom McD, the candle you lit will forever shine orange, even on top of the mountains and deep in the valleys with our orange house of MCD. We wish to salute you for your great deeds and confidently say, “THAT YOU HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT AND YOU HAVE WON THE RACE.”
“REST IN PEACE FR. TOM MCDONALD.” We were the only house named after a living Holy Cross Member that gave us a lot of hope and inspiration.
Eulogized by:
MUGABI BRENDON
House Captain MCD House
Holy Cross Lake View Senior Secondary School.
