The wake for Father David L. McCafferty, senior priest – retired, will begin with vespers at 3 p.m. Jan. 17 in St. Vincent de Paul Church, 164 W. Market St., Akron. Visitation will continue until 6 p.m. Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost will preside at vespers and Father Eric Garris, diocesan vocation director, will be the homilist.
Bishop Martin Amos, retired bishop of Davenport, Iowa, will be the main celebrant for Father McCafferty’s funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Jan. 18 in St. Vincent de Paul Church. Father Damian Ference, diocesan vicar for evangelization, will be the homilist.
Father McCafferty, 86, died on Jan. 12.
He was born on Feb. 21, 1938 to the late Edward and Marie (Volk) McCafferty. Father McCafferty was educated at St. Sebastian School, Akron; Borromeo High School and Borromeo College, Wickliffe, and Saint Mary Seminary, Cleveland.
Bishop Floyd Begin ordained him to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 23, 1964 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
Father McCafferty’s first assignment after ordination was as parochial vicar of St. Richard Parish, North Olmsted. On June 17, 1970, he was transferred to St. Edward Parish, Ashland, to serve as parochial vicar and chaplain of the Newman Apostolate at Ashland College. Father McCafferty was appointed parochial vicar of St. Clare Parish, Lyndhurst on Feb. 5, 1976. During that assignment, he also served as vicar coadjutor of Annunciation Parish in Cleveland, effective April 3, 1979. On May 26, 1979, he was named pastor of Annunciation Parish.
On Sept. 15, 1989, Father McCafferty was named pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wickliffe. During this assignment, he also served as chaplain for the Knights of Columbus 5405, effective Jan. 14, 1994.
Father McCafferty retired on June 30, 2008.
Those who knew him said he was a quiet, reserved man with a great sense of humor. They said he lived his priesthood in service to the people entrusted to his care.
Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Akron.