Short Autobiography of Fr. Thomas McCabe
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I was born on November 8, 1965. I am the 5th of 7 children born to John and Doris McCabe. My dad was a Lt. for the St. Paul Police Dept. and my mom was a LP nurse. Both thrived in the service of God and were Catechists for several years. Still today, they go to Eucharistic Adoration every Friday at St. Peter, Forest Lake.
My family moved to Mahtomedi when I was three and we lived a block from White Bear Lake. After my paper route I would go fishing, swimming and boating, and also played sports.
After receiving the call to priesthood, I entered the St. John Vianney Seminary and graduated with a double major in Philosophy and Theology, but still unsure that I would meet the rigors of this vocation. After 4 more years of studies and training at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul Seminary, I graduated with a Master of Divinity degree. By God’s grace I was accepted by the Church and ordained into the ranks of the Presbyterate (priesthood) May 30, 1992.
My first assignment was at the Church of the Holy Spirit as parochial vicar. I also taught part time at the nearby Cretin Derham High School for 2 years. Then I was assigned for 2.5 years at the Church of St. Raphael, Crystal, MN where I worked with two other priests.
My first pastorate was at the Church of Our Lady of the Prairie, Belle Plaine, MN, where my small team and I managed to keep the Catholic school of 50 students open, did about $450,000.00 worth of renovating, and was able to build up the bank account to about $500,000.00 from close to zero when I first arrived. The cooperation and spirit of that community was inspiring, but not without some bumps in the road that can occur when some change is needed.
I was then assigned to the Archdiocese Mission in Venezuela after studying Spanish for the first time for only 6 months. Needless to say, I did what I could over 3.5 exciting years, but the language barrier was always very challenging.
In July 2011, I was named Pastor at the Church of the Immaculate Conception and Canonical Administrator of our consolidated Holy Cross Catholic School which served 179 students, preK – 8th grade. We made some significant changes that included a new principal, 5 new teachers, and formed a new collaborative vision with the parents and stakeholders. On the parish level, I was able to pay down debt and work with others in hiring a new part time Custodian, part time Office Manager, part time Musician, and a new part time Youth and Liturgy Minister.
The archbishop called me away from St. Michael and St. Albert after two years there in 2018, to work here with Fr. Kasel, and to be chaplain of the Latino Community of Goodhue, County.
For three years I have walked with you and have grown in my appreciation of your love for God, the Church and our Christian mission. It is a joy to begin this new chapter of my ministry as your new Parochial Administrator.
In life, change is not an option, but growing toward God is. I entrust myself to the mercy, love and truth of God daily through my morning offering, Liturgy of the Hours, Holy Mass, Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy and dedicated service. I enjoy retreats and my time with family and friends. I enjoy meeting new pilgrims on the way to our Father’s Home where perfect love, life and wisdom await all of us who sincerely follow Jesus Christ and his Commandments of life, love and freedom.
God bless you and welcome back to God’s house,
Fr. Thomas McCabe
Pastor
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