Father Henry Anthony McDaid, age 84, died of natural causes on Wednesday, July 27, in Bessemer. A native of Derry, Northern Ireland, Father McDaid graduated from St. Columb’s College, Derry in 1957 and completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny in 1963. He was ordained by Bishop Peter Birch at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, on Pentecost Sunday, June 2, 1963, for the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham. The following day, he celebrated his first Mass at his home parish, St. Eugene Cathedral in Derry. On July 5, 1963, a day which he described as “unforgettable,” the newly ordained Father McDaid arrived in Mobile and was assigned by Archbishop Thomas J. Toolen to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mobile.

After six years at his first assignment, in April of 1969, Father McDaid was assigned to St. James Parish in Gadsden. Within a few months of his arrival, Northern Alabama was established as a separate diocese with Birmingham being the see city. Already serving in Birmingham, he was brought into the Diocese of Birmingham by Bishop Joseph G. Vath. In September of 1971, he began a two-year course of study at the National Catholic School of Social Service, Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., earning a master’s degree in social work in 1973. His field of concentration was community organization.

Following graduate school, Father McDaid was assigned pastor of St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Demopolis and to its mission in Greensboro. Realizing his interest and expertise in liturgical worship and music, Bishop Vath assigned Father McDaid to the newly created Diocesan Worship Office in July of 1975. Along with Sister Mary Robert, O.S.B., and Sister Jackie de Bone, he traveled throughout the diocese assisting parishes as they implemented the liturgical developments of the Second Vatican Council. During this time, he also served as part-time associate at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Hoover. In 1981, Father McDaid was assigned as pastor of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Decatur and Holy Family Catholic Church in Hartselle. Six years later he started his new assignment as pastor of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Birmingham. In the last decade of his active priestly ministry, Father McDaid served as pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Talladega, administrator at St. Jude Catholic Church in Sylacauga, pastor of St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Jasper, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Haleyville, and pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Adamsville.

Throughout the course of all his assignments, Father McDaid exercised his interest in special ministries. In addition to service on various diocesan committees such as the Personnel Board and the Building Committee, he also served the Engaged Encounter program, Beginning Experience, and the Grace Memorial Fund.

Upon his retirement in 2003, Father McDaid was invited by Father John Fallon, pastor of Prince of Peace Catholic Church, to join the parish as a retired priest in residence. Father McDaid was there until 2014, “retired” for three years, and then returned to Prince of Peace from 2017-2019. At Prince of Peace, he led the ministry to the sick, visiting parishioners in their homes, nursing homes, as well as going to Birmingham area hospitals to offer Mass and the Eucharist to the sick. Father McDaid had a strong calling to this ministry and Father Fallon knew that he would be a perfect fit to fulfill this ministry.

Father McDaid had a deep love for music. He was a skilled vocalist and pianist and took piano lessons at Samford University well into his retirement. In addition, he served as the Diocesan Coordinator of Liturgy and was instrumental in planning and assisting many special liturgies for the diocese. In 2020, Father McDaid published a book of his homilies entitled Pondering.

Father McDaid is survived by his sister Marjorie McDaid and brother-in-law Tony Wren of London, England; niece Rionach McDaid-Wren; and nephew Benedict McDaid-Wren. He was predeceased by his parents Margaret Doherty and William John McDaid, sister Sister Anne McDaid, I.B.V.M., and brother John McDaid.
Visitation for Father McDaid will be held at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 4600 Preserve Parkway, Hoover, AL, 35226 on Aug. 1 from 3-5 p.m. The funeral Mass will be offered at 5 p.m.