Msgr. Charles McNamee

Msgr. Charles McNamee - universally known as "Father Mac" - was involved with Scouting for more than 75 years, including a 42-year tenure as diocesan Director of Scouting. At Camp Lowden, he presided over Mass during summer camp on Tuesday evenings for many years. In the 1960s he played a key role in organizing the first religious retreats.

A native of Chicago, Msgr. McNamee was raised as a "city boy." He attended his first Scout camp - Owasippe - in 1937 where he recalls going to Mass outside for the first time. He became hooked on both Scouting and camping, and returned to serve on the camp staff there. When he was in the seminary in the late 1940s he spent two summers as a counselor at Camp Marymount, a Catholic camp near Nashville, Tennessee.

Msgr. McNamee was ordained to the priesthood May 20, 1950, after studies at Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, and St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore. Later he obtained a Master’s Degree in education from Loyola University in Chicago, and studied Canon Law at Gregorian University in Rome.

He served parishes in Rockford, Elgin, Morrison, Rock Falls, and Pecatonica. While at St. Lawrence Parish in Elgin he was assistant principal and director of guidance at St. Edward Central Catholic High School. That began a period of more than 40 years of service in diocesan high schools as teacher, administrator, and guidance counselor.

In 1954, only four years after he was ordained, he was appointed diocesan Director of Scouting by Bishop Raymond P. Hillinger. "It came as a surprise," he recalls. His predecessor gave him a little notebook from the diocese’s original director, which he passed on to his successor, Msgr. William Schwartz, in 1996.

Having helped individual Catholic Scouts earn the Ad Altare Dei emblem, he saw his appointment as an opportunity to "encourage young people in all parts of the diocese" to earn that emblem and others. In the mid-1950s Bishop Lane asked Msgr. McNamee to revive the practice of a diocesan-wide presentation of Scouting’s religious emblems.

On Scout Sunday, February 9, 1959, Scouts, their leaders, and their families packed St. James Pro-Cathedral, making the presentation of Scout emblems that day the first major event in the diocese’s year-long celebration of its 50th Anniversary. The tradition continues to this day in St. Peter’s Cathedral, and has expanded to include younger boys in Cub Scouts, as well as girls who are members of the Girl Scouts.

Msgr. McNamee received the Vigil Honor in 1956 and the Silver Beaver Award in 1960 prior to joining our council. He loves Scouting and enjoys the great outdoors, stating:

Camps and trips are great opportunities to bring our Lord to Catholic boys and girls and adults in an informal and elementary setting. But we also have contact with non-Catholics, so these are opportunities to bring our Lord to these people and to allow them to grow with Him too.

Other appointments he held over the years include chaplain of Mt. St. Francis Provincial House in Rockford, associate director of Catholic Cemeteries, auditor, vice-officialis, and promoter of justice in the Tribunal, secretary-treasurer of the Clergy Relief Society, bishop’s Secretary for Retired Priests, Director of Vianney Oaks, and part-time counselor at Boylan Central Catholic High School. In 1986 he was appointed Chancellor of the diocese.

In 1995 he was elevated to the level of monsignor. He was quoted at the time, "It was a pleasant surprise and I am grateful for the recognition from our Holy Father [Pope John Paul II] and Bishop [Thomas G.] Doran."

After serving as Director of Scouting continuously for 42 years, Msgr. McNamee retired from that post in 1996 and as Chancellor in 1999. He returned to Camp Lowden each summer for the Tuesday evening Masses, and in addition he helped with the annual religious retreat, Order of the Arrow conclaves, and other functions. Msgr. McNamee had an extensive encyclopedia of Scout songs and lore with which he entertained at campfires in all the activities which he was involved.

New Altar

In 2013 a new altar was dedicated to Father Mac in honor of his service to Camp Lowden. The altar was installed by Benson Stone on July 30, 2013, and was dedicated at the Religous Retreat on September 7, 2013. This was also the 50th Anniversary of the Catholic Retreat.

Monsignor McNamee passed away in April 2015, at Presence Cor Mariae Center, Rockford, where he was a resident. Monsignor was born on July 2, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois, to Charles J. and Loretta (Emond) McNamee.

Monsignor McNamee attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Chicago, St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, and St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, being ordained on May 20, 1950, by Bishop John J. Boylan at St. Patrick Church, Dixon. He furthered his studies and received a Master of Education from Loyola University, Chicago in 1959 and a Licentiate in Canon Law (cum laude) from Rome in 1980. He was appointed Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) by Pope John Paul II on November 14, 1994, and later Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary by Pope John Paul II on May 11, 1999. His first assignment was as Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Rockford (6/1950-1/1951).

He then was assigned to St. Laurence Church, Elgin and a member of the faculty then Asst. Superintendent at St. Edward CCHS, Elgin (1/1951-6/1963); Chaplain for the Boy Scouts of America (9/1954-present); Pastor, St. Mary Parish, Morrison (6/1963-7/1966) and Faculty of Newman CCHS, Sterling; Advocate, Defender, Judge, Auditor, Promoter of Justice for the Diocesan Tribunal (11/1966-7/1999); Chaplain Mt. St. Francis Convent, Rockford (10/1970-1/1976); Associate Director of Catholic Cemeteries (6/1985-7/1999); Chancellor (10/1986-7/1999); Censor Librorum for the Diocese. Monsignor was known to the Boy Scouts as "Father Mac". He was on the Executive Board of the Blackhawk Boy Scout Council and Chaplain at the summer camps at Camp Lowden. Monsignor was given the highest Scouting Award that a Council could give - the Silver Beaver Award. He was also given by the Diocese the St. George Award and the Bronze Pelican Award for Scouting. Monsignor retired from active ministry in July, 1999, but continued weekend assistance to Holy Spirit Parish, Roscoe and the Boy Scouts.

Monsignor is survived by his sister Loretta McNamee, Crystal Lake and many cousins, brother priests and special friends. He is predeceased by his parents, sister, Sister Rose McNamee, BVM and brother William.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, March 20, 2015, at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, Rockford. Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Elgin, Illinois.