John J. McCann dies; longtime pastor in Manhasset was 76

Msgr. John J. McCann kept the doors of Manhasset’s Church of Saint Mary open around the clock in the wake of 9/11 as he consoled congregants who prayed for loved ones feared lost in the rubble of the twin towers.

McCann, who served as St. Mary’s pastor for 17 years, died Wednesday in the rectory after a brief illness. He was 76.

“He stood as a leader for us, assuring us to trust in the Lord,” said parishioner Mary Lou de Venoge, 57, of Manhasset, who recalled seeing McCann praying with the victims’ families the night of the terror attacks. Up to 40 church members were initially unaccounted for.

McCann, a 1957 St. Mary’s High School graduate, devoted his life to the 11,000-member parish and encouraged young Catholics to make the church their spiritual home. He also spearheaded a multimillion-dollar church and school renovation project.

“He had a steadfast commitment to Catholic education, and he wanted to do whatever he could to keep St. Mary’s in the forefront,” said Eileen Symmons, director of communications for the church and The Schools of Saint Mary.

McCann served as pastor emeritus since stepping down last June.

“Although retired, he continued his ministry to the church, the parishioners and the school community he loved dearly,” said the Rev. Robert A. Romeo, who succeeded McCann.

McCann was born in Brooklyn and raised in New Hyde Park. He attended Catholic schools through his life and continued his studies at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington after graduating from St. John’s University in 1961.

He became associate pastor of Notre Dame Church in New Hyde Park after being ordained in 1965. He later served at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ronkonkoma and St. Patrick Church in Glen Cove. In 1991, Pope John Paul II elevated him to monsignor.

In 1998, he became St. Mary’s pastor and later ushered in technological advances such as iPads for students, Symmons said. He helped raise $14 million to expand the elementary school and make other upgrades, and led efforts to combine the high school and elementary school.

“Very few pastors are able to be spiritual leaders and also understand the financial side of running a big parish,” said de Venoge’s husband, Marc, 58, a school board member and longtime parishioner.

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A quiet man who enjoyed tending to his rose garden, McCann spoke through his homilies, leaving parishioners with a message “that would carry you through the week and strengthen your faith life,” Mary Lou de Venogue said.

She remembers McCann telling her daughter’s high school graduating class that St. Mary’s will always be their home.

“In his very quiet, soft way, very sincerely he said to the students: ‘I just want you to know you’re always welcome here. I want you to come back, get married here, bring your children here,” de Venogue said.

McCann is survived by a brother, James of upstate Wappingers Falls; a sister, Patricia Hoey of Dagsboro, Delaware; seven nieces and nephews; 13 great-nieces and great-nephews.

Visiting hours are from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Marian Room of the Parish Ministry Center of the Church of Saint Mary, with a Mass of Transferral at 7:30 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at the church at 11 a.m. Monday, with burial in Cemetery of the Holy Rood in Westbury.