Fr. William McKee, C.Ss.R., St. Louis native, dies at 89

Redemptorist known for his work with Inactive Catholics

DENVER, CO, October 12, 2009... Fr. William McKee, C.Ss.R., known for his work with inactive Catholics and those alienated from the Church, died today at the St. Clement Health Care Center in Liguori, MO. He was 89 years old.

Fr. William McKee, C.Ss.R. was born in St. Louis, MO on October 4, 1920. After graduating from Brothers of Mary High School, he entered the seminary at Kirkwood, MO. After Kirkwood, he went to the novitiate at De Soto, MO. He professed his vows as a Redemptorist August 2, 1942. After attending the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Oconomowoc, WI, he was ordained a Redemptorist Priest on January 6, 1948.

A year later he went to Brazil. He was stationed 1,500 miles up the Amazon River at Coari. After four years in Coari, he was assigned to the parish in Belem, situated at the mouth of the Amazon. There he served as parish priest, director of Perpetual Help devotions, and business manager for the vice-province of Manaus.

After 10 years in the Amazon, Fr. McKee was brought back to the states to serve as business manager for both foreign missions in Brazil and Thailand. He was also appointed editor of the Redemptorist Missions, a magazine about the missionaries’ work in these foreign lands.

In 1968, he was made treasurer of the Liguori Mission House community and secretary-treasurer of Liguori Publications. He also served as director of marketing for the publishing house. Fr. McKee was stationed at Liguori for nearly 17 years.

In 1977, he had an idea, which came about during a conversation with an individual at a party. The man said to Fr. McKee, “Hey Padre, I used to be a Catholic.”

“Oh, how long has it been?”

“Twenty years.”

“Did you ever think about coming back?”

“Nobody ever asked me.”

“I’m asking you.”

“Then I accept,” the man said.

Fr. McKee would devote the rest of his life and ministry to bringing people back to the Church. His efforts gained him worldwide acclaim. His books and videos are in circulation throughout the world. Two of his most popular titles include Listen With Your Heart and How to Reach Out to Inactive Catholics. His programs have been adopted in North America, South America, Europe, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to his parish programs for inactive Catholics, Fr. McKee also conducted seminars for the continuing education of priests.

If you would like to make a donation in Fr. McKee’s memory, to help support the health care of the Redemptorists, please make your check payable to the Redemptorists/St. Clement Health Care Center and mail it to:

St. Clement Health Care Center
300 Liguori Drive
Liguori, MO 63057