Father Ed McDevitt was born in Boston, MA on May 4, 1944. He has one brother. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Mobile on April 16, 1971. There he served as a high school teacher and an associate pastor at different parishes until being named a pastor.
He joined The Oratory at Rock Hill in 1991. His first priestly assignment as an Oratorian in October 1992 was Administrator of Divine Saviour in York, and the Lake Wylie community. Presently Father Ed serves as Parochial Vicar at St. Philip Neri.
At The Oratory he serves as Director of Vocation, helping potential members to evaluate vocations to the priesthood and brotherhood at The Oratory.
“While I was happy as a priest in Alabama, I was feeling a call to be in a community. I made a visit to Rock Hill and returned again a few times as I discerned my calling. I was accepted in 1991 as a novice in The Oratory.”
I was born in Boston, MA on May 7, 1944, the older of two sons. My father was a graduate of Boston College. Both of my parents were strong Catholics. That is where I first felt the call to become a priest.
I attended Catholic schools from the third to the twelfth grades, taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston.
Since I had a job during high school and lived 35 miles from St. Mary’s High School, I could not be active in sports. One of my favorite hobbies was dancing. Every Saturday night, my friends and I would go to the CYO dance.
After graduating from high school, I entered the seminary, where I earned my B.A. degree with a major in Philosophy. I was encouraged by my spiritual director to consider the home missions. I was accepted by the Diocese of Mobile, AL. They sent me to Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, where I received my Masters degree. I was ordained a priest in April, 1971.
Bishop John May was the Ordinary when I was ordained. He assigned me to Montgomery where I served as a curate for two years at St. Bede the Venerable parish. A parish, St. Andrew’s, an inner city parish with 65 parishioners became open. I was appointed its pastor in 1973. The first Sunday of the month was the best collection, which averaged $97. I requested to teach at Montgomery Catholic High School and served as a full time religion teacher and chaplain.
A few years later, I received my Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus. I began teaching philosophy at Troy State, which I did for nine years.
While I was happy as a priest in Alabama, I was feeling a call to be in a community. When I was in the seminary, I had written a paper on St. Philip Neri. Part of the paper dealt with the Oratorian community he founded. It was a community where priests and lay members lived together. I made a visit to Rock Hill and returned again a few times as I discerned my calling. I was accepted in 1991 as a novice in The Oratory. After my year of novitiate, I was assigned as pastor of Divine Savior in York and its mission of All Saints in Lake Wylie. There were approximately 180 parishioners at Divine Savior and 150 in All Saints.
During my pastorate at Divine Savior, were were able to build Brendan Hall, a parish life center. We were also able to establish a Knights of Columbus Council which continues to grow. Due to the dedicated service of our parishioners, we had an outstanding religious education program. Again, through the commitment of the parishioners we established a Youth Group, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts.
All Saints parish worshipped for years in a rented non-denominational church. The parishioners desiring one day to have their own church, began a fund drive to raise the needed money, and in 2006 All Saints Catholic Church opened its doors and we began a Men’s Club and St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance, which have been very successful.
I have come to see from Divine Savior and All Saints that while St. Philip Neri found the Oratory for the evangelization of the laity, very often it is the laity who evangelize the priests.
In addition to parish work,k I have held some key positions in the Oratorian community. I served for three years as the Director of Development, and Director of Formation with a team of Father Joseph Wahl and Father Joe Pearce. We are entrusted with the formation of new candidates for the priesthood or brotherhood, introducing them to the Oratorian way of life. Currently, also, to help the Oratory meet its financial obligations. I travel around the country making appeals for funds through the Propagation of the Faith program. We pray that after I preach at all the Masses, the collections will both cover expenses and provide some income to help the Oratory. I conclude by asking your prayers for the success of this ministry.
