Father Michael Maher, SSCC, passed away on August 4 at the age of 85. Fr. Maher was the founding pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Chino Hills and later served as Pastor of St. Louis Parish in Cathedral City.
Born on December 27, 1937, in Dublin, Ireland, Fr. Maher was the oldest of seven children. His mom and dad, Patrick Maher and Margaret Mary Lawler, laid a solid foundation of faith, and throughout his 85 years of life, he always went home to be renewed.
On August 4, 1956, Fr. Maher entered the Seminary of Sacred Hearts Novitiate in Cootehill, Ireland. Those steps then led him to study in Jaffrey, New Hampshire.
After his 1963 ordination in Ireland, Fr. Maher returned to the United States when he was assigned to an all-boys Damien High School in La Verne to teach Latin and religion and remained there until 1974. His next assignment was as the associate pastor at Holy Name of Mary Parish, San Dimas, where he was asked in 1981 to be the pastor.
In January 1986, he was approached by the provincial to consider starting a new parish in Chino Hills, which came to be St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. Fr. Maher accepted the proposal and fell in love, through his act of acceptance, and the community soon became part of his extended family. In the beginning of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, there were only 200 people attending Mass, today there are over 8,000. After 15 years at St. Paul the Apostle, Fr. Maher was transferred to St. Louis in Cathedral City, where he was pastor for ten years only stepping down due to illness. On June 23, 2023, Fr. Maher celebrated 60 years of priesthood.
Wherever he resided Fr. Maher entered the hearts of those God called him to serve.