WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. – Rev. Msgr. William F. Murray, 90, Pastor Emeritus of St. Clare Church in Misquamicut, died on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.
Born in Providence, a son of the late William F. and Agnes J. (McDermott) Murray, he attended public schools and La Salle Academy in Providence.
He completed studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Md., and at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Md., and also at Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Warwick Neck. He was ordained a priest on December 22, 1945 at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Providence by Bishop Francis P. Keough.
From January 1946 to October 1948 he was a teacher at Our Lady of Providence Seminary. In October 1948 he was appointed assistant chancellor then in January 1949 vice-chancellor of the Diocese of Providence. In August 1950 he became a Papal Chamberlain with the title of Reverend Monsignor. In January 1952 he was appointed chancellor, in 1955 Assistant State Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and in 1957 State Chaplain of the same organization. In 1959 he was made Domestic Prelate of the Holy Father and pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston. In September 1973 he became the director of Our Lady of Peace Retreat House in Narragansett. In January 1979 he was appointed pastor of St. Clare Church, Misquamicut, where he served until January 1992 when he retired as pastor emeritus.
In addition to his priestly duties, Msgr. Murray also served as Dean of the Cranston-Johnston Deanery VI and Dean of Washington County South Deanery X (1980). He was also the secretary of the Fourth Diocesan Synodol (1952) and diocesan consultor. In the fall of 1972, Msgr. Murray attended the Institute of Post-Conciliar Spirituality in Rome.
After his retirement from parish administration, Msgr. Murray moved to Mashpee, Mass., and offered his priestly services in local parishes on Cape Cod. Later he moved to West Palm Beach, Fla.
Msgr. Murray is survived by a brother, Robert Murray of Palm Beach, Fla. and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Frances E. Murray, Alice Crowley and Virginia A. Gallogly.
A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial for the repose of his soul was offered on Jan. 7 at Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston with Bishop Thomas J. Tobin as the main celebrant and Bishops Robert C. Evans, Louis E. Gelineau, Ernest B. Boland and Daniel P. Reilly, Bishop Emeritus of the Worcester Diocese and other clergy concelebrating. Bishop Gelineau served as the homilist.
Burial was in St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket.
