Margaret O’Donnell, Victoria, BC

Reverend Terrance McNamara, O.M.I., passed away on April 28, 2025 while in palliative care at Yaletown House in Vancouver BC. He was born August 3, 1937 in Timmins ON. He is predeceased by his parents Frederick John and Mary Loretta (nee Doherty) McNamara, two brothers, Reggie (Irene) and Darcy (Arden) and one sister, Colleen Marinacci. He is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Father Terry received his education in Timmins and Ottawa ON. He attained a BCom. degree at Western University, London ON. He studied Life Skills at Mount Royal College, Calgary AB and Newstart, Prince Albert SK. He entered the Oblates in Ottawa and the Novitiate in Arnprior ON in 1960. He took his first vows as a Brother in 1961 and perpetual vows December 8, 1967. He attended Newman Theological College in Edmonton AB. He was Ordained to the Priesthood in the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate July 15, 1979.

Terry wanted to make his Ordination to the Priesthood meaningful to the Indigenous people as he had worked with them on Vancouver Island for a long time. A most unique Ordination took place in the Somenos Big House on the Somenos Reserve in Duncan BC. An altar was erected, carpets were laid and reeds from the sea were placed on them. Terry would lie on them as he prostrated himself before Bishop Remi De Roo, Victoria Diocese.

Terry’s Obediences included: Assistant to the Director of the Association of Mary Immaculate, Ottawa; Teacher – Life Skills, Camosun College, Victoria; Supervisor & Administrator – Mission City BC Indian Residential School; Administrator – Victoria Indian Cultural Centre; Rector and Episcopal Vicar – St. Andrews Cathedral, Victoria; Pastor of many Parishes: Saanich Peninsula Parish, Sidney; St. Peter’s, Princeton; Annunciation, Prince Rupert; and St. Augustine’s Vancouver. Director – the Crescent, Vancouver and Provincial Busar – BC/Yukon.

McNamara courageously battled Parkinson’s disease for several years before he passed away at age 87. He is being remembered as a man of deep faith, wise with well-balanced judgement, energetic, determined, frank and open, and a good sense of humour. He was deeply attached to his Oblate vocation; a good Community man, he was kind, considerate and respected. Terry had an interest in, and studied, other cultures and religions. Terry is one of very few non-Indigenous to become initiated as a Big House Indian Dancer! When time for hobbies, he enjoyed golfing, gardening and reading. Rest in peace.
Services were held on Friday, May 23, 2025, at St. Augustine’s Church, 2028 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC as follows: Viewing at 9:30am Mass of Christian Burial at 10am. Interment at the Oblate Cemetery, 7494 Mary Street, Mission, BC. Condolences may be offered at https://www.kearneyfs.com.

Father Terry Has a Special Place in My Heart

I was saddened to hear of Father Terry’s death – happy to learn that St Elizabeth’s Parish had posted news of it in its bulletin and prayed for him near the time of his death.

Terry has a special place in my heart as he makes his way ‘home’. I attended his ordination in the Big House, way ‘back in the day’. And sometime around that time, he and Rev. Bill Mudge lived together in a house on North Park Ave, one set way back behind another house which was rented to us, the 2nd house for the newly emerging L’Arche Victoria community. Both celebrated Mass Wednesday late afternoons and it became the routine of the we who were young, ‘back in the day’, to attend – ‘en masse’. Terry and Bill were always hospitable, welcoming us into their home.

Later, Terry was Rector at St Andrew’s Cathedral. It was he who started up the Victoria Downtown Churches Association. He mentored that initiative with the greatest of care, cultivating an atmosphere of welcome and hospitality at the heart of the monthly meetings. The circle grew to include the ministers, pastors and priest(s) of the entire downtown faith community: Catholics (Harry de Zwager was in the front of the line with Terry, along with Esther Jedynak, at the table with the Anglicans from Christ Church and St Johns, United from First Met and James Bay, Lutherans – from Fort St Grace Lutheran, the Presbyterians from Douglas Street….it was a regular ‘thing’ in which loving relations between believers was cultivated.

I noticed that at St Elizabeth’s in the church lobby hangs the “Covenant” between St. Elizabeth’s Catholic and St. Stephens’ Anglican and it’s Terry who signs off (with Remi) for the Catholics. Terry had an ecumenical heart. He was willing to step beyond his fears and reach out to his brothers and sisters in the believing community and bring them together.

I was so HAPPY to read the obituary and to spot the name “Marinacci”, the name of his sister. It’s the name I recalled when I learned of Terry’s death. We were blessed to welcome Terry’s niece, Cathy Marinacci to L’Arche Victoria. She was a lovely young woman who came for a time as an assistant to our homes. Sincere condolences to her in the loss of her dear uncle.
And condolences to us all, first to the Oblates, his first family, and to all who cared for him, who knew him, and whose heart was ministered to by him.

Rest in peace, dear Terry, friend to the poor and to us all.