Father McMahon, a native of Detroit, MI, was born on May 11, 1929, the son of William and Margaret Rosener McMahon. He attended Visitation elementary and high school. Following graduation in 1947, he entered the Josephite minor seminary (Epiphany College) in Newburgh, NY.
After his novitiate year, he continued his studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Washington and was ordained in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on June 7, 1958. He returned to his home parish church of the Visitation for his First Solemn Mass.
Father McMahon was back at Epiphany College for his first assignment as teacher of seminarians in Latin and serving as librarian. Two years later, he was sent to St. Joseph Seminary as dean of students, vice-rector, and teacher of psychology. In 1968, he was assigned as rector of Epiphany College and teacher of Latin.
His first venture into pastoral work was as Newman Chaplain at Prairie View University and pastor of St. Martin de Porres church in Prairie View, TX, where he served until sent to Epiphany parish in New Orleans two years later. He remained but a year until assigned to Incarnation parish in Washington, D.C., for a four-year stay until retuning to St. Joseph’s Seminary as rector. When he was assigned pastor of St. Luke’s church in D.C. in 1991, Father had completed 26 years in the formation of Josephite seminarians.
Two years later, Father McMahon was appointed director of novices at Mary Immaculate Novitiate, newly located in Houston, TX. For the next ten years the novitiate moved twice more-from Houston ton to Mobile, AL, and to Baltimore, MD. When there were no novices for the year, Father McMahon assumed parochial duties in nearby parishes.
In 2006, he assumed pastorate of Katrina-damaged St. Peter the Apostle parish in Pascagoula, MS, which had lost its church and school. He oversaw the building of a parish hall to provide space for Masses and teaching and for social events. At the time of his death, plans and fund-raising for building a separate church were well underway.
Funeral services were held at Sacred Heart Church, Pascagoula, on Wednesday, December 7, at 10:30 a.m. Burial was in St. Peter the Apostle Cemetery, nearby the parish church.
May he rest in the peace of the Lord following 58 years of priestly ministry.