Beloved pastor has weathered the storm

McDonagh, 73, is retiring after nearly half a century as a priest, which included a nine-month suspension by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston at the height of the priest sexual abuse scandal. The 40-year-old allegation, later proven unfounded, stemmed from a complaint by the alleged victim’s sister; the man himself had died years earlier.

The archdiocese called McDonagh in and ordered him not to return to St. Ann’s. He was given three hours to leave the rectory. His parishioners first heard the news on television. They were incensed and held a prayer vigil every Sunday night until he was reinstated.

During his suspension, McDonagh was sent to Toronto for a weeklong psychiatric evaluation, “where they found I wasn’t a sexual deviant,’’ he said recently. “They asked me all sorts of questions: Do you flash people? Do you consort with prostitutes? I’ve blocked most of it out.’’

Parishioners and McDonagh continue to believe that he was targeted because he had called on Cardinal Bernard Law to resign for his role in covering up cases of abuse. And McDonagh told the archdiocese that his parish would not be participating in the cardinal’s Promise for Tomorrow fund-raising campaign.

In 2003, after an investigation, McDonagh was reinstated to his parish. But he counts the suspension as the darkest time of his life.

“Every time priest sex abuse is in the news, you’re reminded,’’ he said. “I think I’m still trying to get my identity as a priest back, at least within myself. It will always be there, but it does not define me.’’

The stress took a toll on his health: He developed high blood pressure and heart problems.

But he’s good to go now, and he’s going. He plans to leave in early May, moving to Reno, to be near his sister. “I can see the Sierras from my house,’’ he said with a wide smile.

He will miss his parish: “Jesus said, ‘Love one another as I have loved you,’ and they did,’’ said McDonagh. “They loved me unconditionally. They accepted the fact that what the archdiocese was doing was false.’’

McDonagh isn’t exactly retiring. For the Diocese of Reno, which covers half the state, he’ll be filling in for priests who are sick or on vacation. He is already booked for June and July.

“It’s the best way to retire, because you have no administrative responsibilities,’’ he said. “It’s just saying the Masses, doing the preaching, and taking care of people. Let someone else worry about the heat and lights.’’

In West Bridgewater, McDonagh belongs to a barbershop quartet named the South Shore Men of Harmony. In Reno, he’ll join the Silver Dollar Chorus.

And he plans to stay in touch with friends and parishioners back east.

“I’m going to join Facebook — is that what they call it?’’ he said. “They tell me it’s a good way to communicate.’’

There’s little doubt that McDonagh, who grew up in Jamaica Plain, will remain a faithful Red Sox fan. He writes a weekly “Musings’’ column for his congregation. A recent one included the fact that he was heartbroken over the team’s 0-6 start.

But as he celebrated Mass the Sunday before the home opener against the Yankees, he prayed Psalm 34: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.’’

He wrote: “I left Mass filled with hope, because I prayed, ‘The Lord confronts the evil-doers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.’ [The Sox] were now able to confront the New York Yankees that day. It was opening day, a new beginning, and ‘the Lord redeems the lives of his servants.’ ’’

Lo and behold, the Sox beat the visitors. McDonagh then prayed Psalm 18: “Lord, how I love you. For you have done such tremendous things for me.’’

And you thought it was Big Papi’s bat.

In Reno, it’s all about the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Triple A farm team, located there. “But one of their coaches is a former Red Sox shortstop,’’ McDonagh said.

Those at St. Ann’s will miss their priest. Dinners were held in his honor after two recent Masses, and 900 people attended. Most everyone in the parish helped with food serving, setup, or cleanup. The children raised money and will dedicate a large stone in the church’s Garden of Life. In October, he has promised to return, at the children’s behest, for their Confirmation.

“It’s like losing a member of the family,’’ said longtime parishioner Ann Zenus. Parishioners feel that he has earned his retirement, she said. “But personally we’re heartbroken. He has brought so much joy, love, and togetherness.’’

He’ll preach his last Mass next Sunday. The next day, he’ll go to Fenway and watch the Sox take on the Angels before getting in the car and heading out to Reno.

Let’s all hope that he remembers his team in his prayers. God knows, they need all the help they can get.

Amen.

Globe columnist Bella English lives in Milton. She can be reached at english@globe.com.