Fr. McGrath And A Mysterious Rectory Death: Ferak Column

NEW LENOX, IL — It has been close to three weeks since the most recognized figure at Providence Catholic High School — a man with a white collar who was a constant presence in Providence Celtics photo-ops — was basically given the boot. For more than three decades, Father Richard McGrath was the most powerful and influential force at 1800 West Lincoln Highway in New Lenox.

On Dec. 22, McGrath's name, biography and photo vanished from the Providence Catholic website. It seems the only remaining mention of him is in a "News Bulletin" ambiguously headlined, "Announcement from our Augustinian Provincial & the Diocese of Joliet."

"We are sincerely saddened to report that Father Richard J. McGrath, O.S.A., has retired as President of Providence Catholic High School, effective immediately," it begins. "This action is in response to an investigation by civil authorities of an allegation of potentially inappropriate material on his mobile device. The Diocese of Joliet and the Augustinian Order have followed the accepted protocol for responding to such allegations and are cooperating with the local authorities."

This public statement of McGrath's departure happened on the last day of finals for students. Providence faculty and students have been on winter break ever since. Classes at Providence resume this week.

"As this is an active investigation, officials of the school, diocese, and order are not at liberty to comment further," the statement reads.

Meanwhile, a cloud of uncertainty continues to hang over Providence, McGrath and the school's future enrollment prospects.

That uncertainty, though, has drawn some people out of the woodwork who are familiar with Providence and McGrath. They've told me that McGrath was regarded as an excellent and wise businessman, but some thought he had poor people skills. Over the years, McGrath oversaw the boys' golf program. He was also an avid smoker of fine cigars.

When it came to managing Providence's bottom line, McGrath was regarded as frugal. When families of students are unable to pay for their tuition, Providence hauls them into the Will County Courthouse. Under McGrath's leadership, Providence has been the plaintiff in at least 25 small claims civil lawsuits for nonpayment of tuition since 2010, a review of Will County's court records shows. Joliet Catholic Academy, on the other hand, filed no such lawsuits during that same time period.

McGrath always had an ambitious long-range plan for expanding Providence's facilities and buildings. In September, he posed for a photo at a $6 million Providence Catholic groundbreaking event that included New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann and Will County Executive Larry Walsh.

Image provided to Patch

New Lenox Patch reported that the new student commons and cafeteria is scheduled for completion by September 2018, when Providence will celebrate its 100th anniversary. But the ongoing McGrath scandal, as some people from Providence are calling it, could overshadow any celebration of Providence's rich and proud history. In fact, McGrath — who has served as either principal or president of Providence during his 32-year tenure — may have nothing to do with the New Lenox high school's milestone, which is only eight months away.

QUIET EXIT

Perhaps the most perplexing aspect of McGrath's ouster, some people have told me, is how McGrath willingly agreed to relinquish his power at Providence and leave amid controversy.

In a story published Dec. 23, Father McGrath told Joliet Herald-News reporter Bob Okon, “I’m retired now. I’m very grateful to all the people who helped me in all the years I was at Providence.”

One person familiar with McGrath told me, "It is uncharacteristic of his personality to go down without a fight. Where is he and what is happening?"

That same person recently said that when he was a student at Providence, McGrath once gave him an awkward shoulder rub in the weight room. The person added that word got around the student body that McGrath was known for giving massages and shoulder rubs to a select number of male athletes in the weight room or the school library near his office.

While McGrath's legacy has been tarnished, many people still want to know why. What caused Providence Catholic officials to force their 71-year-old longtime leader to retire under a dark cloud?

Here are some of the many lingering questions that people are asking:

• When did Providence officials first become aware of possible misconduct on McGrath's part?

• What prompted someone to contact officials at the New Lenox Police Department?

• If Father McGrath's cell phone is the prime source of evidence for the criminal investigation, are there inappropriate images or videos of Providence Catholic students, past or present, on his device?

• Could the cell phone allegation be a ruse, meaning the phone really isn't the underlying reason for McGrath's removal or the issues that were raised about McGrath in the first place?

• In McGrath's defense, if he is vindicated, will he be reinstated as president of Providence?

• Should the New Lenox Police Department be entrusted to conduct an impartial and thorough criminal investigation surrounding a powerful member of the Lincoln-Way region's clergy?

• When did the New Lenox Police Department first become aware of criminal allegations surrounding McGrath? Was it just last month or do the suspicions of misconduct go back much further?

BROTHER DIES

These days, the New Lenox Police Department's reputation and level of professionalism is exceptionally high compared to what the department was like more than a decade ago, when one of the last big mysteries surrounding Father McGrath and Providence Catholic was investigated — the death of Brother John Newton inside the Providence rectory.

Image via Patch

From the Midwest Augustinians website: "Brother John E. Newton, O.S.A. died during a fire in his room on Friday morning, March 23, 2001, at the Augustinian Friary of Saint John of Sahagún, New Lenox, Illinois."

An article in the next day's Chicago Tribune was headlined, "Fire In Rectory Kills Instructor." The story indicated that Newton's body was found in his room at about 6 a.m.

McGrath told the Tribune that Newton was a smoker. The New Lenox Chief of Police at the time, Walter Kaszubski, theorized that a cigarette had caused the fire that killed Newton, who was only 43 years old.

"Probably what happened is you had a very small fire that put itself out," Kaszubski told a Tribune reporter. "The windows were shut, and the smoke had nowhere to circulate."

At Providence, the mysterious fire that killed Brother John sparked lots of questions. After all, there was no substantial fire damage to the rectory, and the smoke detectors apparently failed to go off.

People also noticed how McGrath took charge of the situation and the case faded from the spotlight in the days and weeks following Newton's stunning death.

According to his obituary:

• Newton was born and raised in Chicago.
• He graduated from St. Rita in 1975.

• He became an Augustinian Brother in the 1980s.
• He came back to his alma mater around 1987 to teach at St. Rita.

• He was head wrestling coach.
• He was director of student activities.

In his late thirties, around 1996, Newton ended up at Providence under Father McGrath. During the last five years of life, he taught theology and was an assistant wrestling coach who mainly was involved with the junior varsity programs.

Known to many as "Bro-Jo," Newton was regarded by many as a bright and pleasant personality. after his death, though, allegations surfaced around Providence about possible inappropriate conduct when he was at the school, a source familiar with the situation told Patch.

The person said he was told of incidents that took place off-campus in which Newton allegedly undressed in front of a limited number of varsity and underclassmen wrestlers and encouraged them to disrobe and get into a hot tub with him.

Newton then died under mysterious circumstances inside his room at the rectory.

"The story about Brother John's death from cigarette smoke, it didn't smell right from the beginning and just left a bad taste in your mouth," the source told Patch. "Why did he end up at Providence from St. Rita? Then, you have the statements from McGrath to the (Chicago) Tribune and the whole way it was handled. The fact that no one smelled it, there was no fire alarm, no major building damage.

"To me, listening to Providence's PR, it called into question just what they had to say regarding issues like that to the public."

The day after Newton died, Father McGrath told the Tribune there was a brief prayer assembly held at Providence for Brother Newton. However, McGrath's comments made it appear that the rest of the day went on as normal. "I think that is the way Brother John would have wanted it," Father McGrath told the newspaper.

Now, some of the same people who remain suspicious about Brother John's death are wondering whether the full story regarding Father McGrath's exit will ever come to light.

Yearbook image provided to Patch

Back on Dec. 27, a New Lenox Police official left me a voicemail message explaining that "unfortunately at this time, I don't have anything more to add ... We're aware of the situation. It's an open investigation. We pretty much have no other comment on the Providence High School issue or Father McGrath due to the sensitivity of the investigation and the sensitivity of the nature ... maybe that will change in the next week, maybe it won't. I'm not sure."

John Ferak is Patch Editor for New Lenox, Joliet and Bolingbrook.