Fr. Robert Power McInroy served as Annunciation Parish's associate pastor

Fr. Robert Power McInroy

Special to the WCR
Toronto

Holy Cross Father Robert Power McInroy, a former associate pastor at Edmonton's Annunciation Parish, died June 3 in Toronto after a courageous battle with ataxia. He was 68.

(Ataxia is a disease of progressive degeneration of those parts of the nervous system that control movement and balance.)

Born in Salmon Creek, N.B., he graduated from St. Thomas College School in Chatham, N.B., and entered the Congregation of Holy Cross. He was ordained a priest Dec. 19, 1964.

Clinical pastoral ed.

He later earned a degree in education at the University of Toronto, did post-graduate studies in London, England, and Dublin, Ireland, and became certified in clinical pastoral education.

Prior to being stricken with ataxia, McInroy served the Holy Cross Fathers and the Church in a rich variety of ministries.

He was a high school teacher in Niagara for four years and was a religion consultant for the then Welland County Roman Catholic School Board for five years.

He did pastoral work in Montreal, Edmonton, British Columbia, Welland and New Brunswick, where he was also director of Villa Madonna Retreat House in Saint John.

McInroy did formation work for his community and ultimately was elected provincial superior. He is survived by seven siblings, including John (Joyce) of Edmonton.

Donated his body

McInroy has donated his body for scientific research. Consequently, the Holy Cross Fathers will celebrate a memorial Mass for him at St. Kevin's Church in Welland on June 18. Eventually his remains will be interred in Holy Cross Cemetery, Welland.

He requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the following: Anatomical Research Fund (Ataxia), University of Toronto and mailed to: Division of Anatomy, Medical Sciences Building, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8 or to the Holy Cross Fathers Missions.

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