Rev. Blaise McInerney

CARMELITE PRIEST BLAISE MCINERNEY

The Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary (PCM), Order of Carmelites, mourns the death of the Reverend Blaise McInerney, O. Carm., who died at the age of 95 on April 18, 2023 in Sarasota, Florida.

Visitation for Reverend Blaise McInerney, O.Carm., was held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 425 S Tamiami Trail, Osprey, FL 34229, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, with funeral immediately following.

Blaise was born to (the late) James Leo “Troubles” McInerney and (the late) Frances Ruth (Voegtly) McInerney on August 15, 1927, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His given name at baptism was James Leo. He is predeceased by his brothers Patrick, Charles, Thomas, and his sister Helen. He is survived by his brother William, currently living in Surprise, Arizona.

 James attended Holy Innocents Grade School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Mount Carmel Junior Seminary in Niagara Falls, Ontario, after which he entered the Carmelite novitiate in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania. He professed simple vows on August 15, 1947, taking the religious name of Blaise. He attended Mount Carmel College in Niagara Falls, Ontario, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. Afterwards, he did further studies in theology at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, while living at Whitefriars Hall.  While in Washington, DC, Blaise made his solemn profession with the Carmelites on August 15, 1951. He was ordained a deacon on February 4, 1954, and was ordained a Carmelite priest the next day, February 5, 1954. He did further studies at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, and the University of San Francisco, in San Francisco, California. He went on to earn a master’s degree in religious education from St. Xavier College in Chicago, Illinois.

Father Blaise’s first assignment was in 1954 as associate pastor at St. Cyril Parish in Chicago, Illinois, for one year, after which he became associate pastor at Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Miraflores, Lima, Peru, for the following two years. In 1957 Father Blaise was assigned to be the associate pastor at Parroquia Santo Cura d’Ars in Santiago, Chile, where he served until September of 1963. He was then assigned as associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Sicuani, Peru, during which time he also served as temporary administrator for the Langui District in Sicuani. In 1969, he returned to the United States, teaching at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois, while simultaneously studying for his master’s degree in religious education at St. Xavier College in Chicago.

In 1969, Father Blaise became chaplain and theology teacher at Villa Maria College in Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1973, he served as part time assistant at St. Leo Parish in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for one year. He then taught theology at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, until 1985. During the next two years, Father Blaise took a one year sabbatical at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California, followed by a year of missionary work in Sicuani, Peru. He then returned to teach theology at Donnelly College in Kansas City for the following five years. Beginning in 1992, he served in Hispanic ministry for the Diocese of Venice, Florida, in the cities of Venice, Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lake Placid. In 2005, Father Blaise retired to the Aston Garden retirement community in Venice, Florida. In 2015, he moved to The Fountains at Lake Pointe Woods and a year later to The Springs at Lake Pointe Woods in Sarasota, Florida, where he remained until his death.

A memorial service will be conducted by Father Adrian Wilde, O. Carm. at 10:30 AM on FRIDAY, June 9, 2023 at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 718 Hazelwood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT THE MAUSOLEUM CHAPEL. Arrangements by the William F. Conroy Funeral Home, Inc. Funeral and Cremation Services, Sheraden. 412-331-5192.

Donations in honor of the Reverend Blaise McInerney, O. Carm., may be made to the Society of Mount Carmel, 1317 North Frontage Road, Darien, Illinois, 60561.

For further information on the Reverend Blaise McInerney, O. Carm., or the Order of Carmelites, please contact Carmelite Media at (630) 971-0724 or visit the Carmelite website at www.carmelites.net.

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