Rev. Edward McLean

Still living on in our hearts and mind. Watch over us our Dear Father Ed

Drove through CT yesterday and remembered all your drives here to Lowell. You will always have a place in the Conway hearts

The light went out , the flame still burns bright.
Think of you often. Watch over us dear friend .

Missing you my dear friend! Love you from here. Bet you are hugging our Dear Jesus now!

Fr. Ed was a very humble and loving man, and a very dedicated priest and homilist. His life touched -- and changed -- many of us. I will always remember his 12 part series, The Journey from the Head to the Heart. As Fr. Ed always said, that distance is the longest 18 inches in the Universe! May his soul rest in peace, and may all who love him be comforted.

For some reason today Father McLean was weighing heavy on my heart. I figured he had maybe passed but knowing how young at heart he was I had to call and confirm. From the call I got confirmation that he in fact passed. I first met him at Assumption Church and then later saw him in Wethersfield. He was an amazing man, so helpful to me. While yet I am sad I know that heaven has gained another angel. I believe he is with my Gramma Pierce who passed 2 yrs ago June. My Gramma also liked him, as we all did. God Bless his family and friends.

I am so sorry for your great loss!! I worked at the Catholic Bookstore in Hartford while in high school, as did two of my siblings, and my Mom would do by be for lunch time mass almost every day. He was one of the kindest, must sincere people I have ever met. My family adored him!! May the GOD of all peace continue to comfort and strengthen you all.

I am so saddened to hear of Fr. Ed"s passing. He was my very treasured friend and mentor.

He was my instructor in the faith when I converted from the Jewish faith to the Roman Catholic Church. He used to jokingly call me his Mary.He helped me to see God's very real presence in the painful life I had lead before the Lord intervened very dramatically to save me from suicide. My time with Fr. Ed was always filled with joy. He had such a heart filled with compassion but he also had a wicked sense of humor. During the years my husband Michael and I attended the noon-time masses he led at the Catholic Bookstore in Hartford, he always gave unbelievably beautiful homilies. He told of being very careful and studious about his first homilies as a young priest. But the the Lord took him to task about "his" obsessed over homilies and said "Why don't you say what I'd like to say. I'll give you the words!" So he did that; he simply relied in the Lord, and the homilies were terrific.

He was never vain, never pushed himself in between you and the Lord. When he asked me who my rabbi had been, and I told him "Rabbi Kessler," he clapped his hands with glee. "Sondra he gave you nothing but the best!"

I regret that I hadn't talked to him for a number of years. He was the father I never had. His faith and strong love pulled me through the eye of the needle.

He will always have a very special place in my heart, maybe the very best chair pulled up to the burning fire that he helped so lovingly to build.

I just found out about Father Ed's passing. I was so blessed to have him in my life. He baptized me in 1956 and married me 1979. He was a friend of my mom and dad, Corinne & Don Scott from their days in high school. When I was a child Christmas wasn't over until we had a visit from him in Lowell. Then my mom would have us all kneel down to get our blessing from him. I was very blessed to share his tapes "From The Head To The Heart" with my church. Everyone in the group felt he was a very special blessing. I know my mom and dad rejoiced in heaven the day he arrived.

I would like to thank Father McLean for making me a Catholic in 1966. Please convey my condolences to the family.

I met Father McLean in 1952 when I was a nurse at New Britain General Hospital and he was the Chaplain there. Through the years I admired his holiness, sense of humor and devout spiritualism toward the Catholic Church. He was a magnificent person who will be missed. June Walsh Donnelly, Westbrook, CT

Fr. Ed had such love and compassion for all of those that he met. He was a true model for all priests. We are so thankful to have known him.

I had the privilege of working for Fr. Ed from 1986 until 1992 at the Catholic Book Store in Hartford and always felt inspired by his loving witness to Christ. He was a very kind and patient "boss" and taught me so many things, especially by example. He was one of my "forever friends" as I was to him. No doubt he is with our God.

I just learned of Fr. Ed's passing. What a beautiful priest and gift to all who met him. I attended Catholic Bookstore masses and his series "Journey from the Head to the Heart." He is someone whose gentle guidance and love changed my life forever. My prayers and sympathy to his family and all who knew him.

I was so blessed to have long walks on the beach with Father Ed.....

What fond memories of Fr Ed! He was sooo special. Loved those Masses at CBS, his gift of song, homily. The lecture series was wonderful and I am happy to have the 12 tapes. His voice, memory and messages live on - and within! Fr Ed was truly an instrument of His peace! Que vaya con Dios!

What can I say that hasn't already been said! I will always remember your laughter, your song but especially your love to us all! No matter if we are family or a homeless person on the street. We are all God's children and are truly loved by you! You were our anchor and will truly be missed with our family! We all depended on you to be there but it is your time to be with God and your family that has passed and we will have to accept it! Your Spirituality will stay with us for ever!!! You have a gift to reach people of all kinds that will resonate with them, forever. We love you and will never forget you and will always keep you close to our hearts!
I always loved our talks with my father about the old days!

Your loving niece,
Peggy McLean-Birchall and Family

Father Ed,

Few words can truly express what you meant to so many people. We will miss your comfort..laughter and your wonderful gift of song. No one I know held such unwavering faith in God.. and you brought us all along for the journey.
You were my special pal.. and I will miss our private talks (and we had so many :))

The world lost you but Heaven gained a true angel.

Love,

Audrey

Such a Kind and Gentle Loving Person. Truly a Humble Presence and Instrument of a Loving God. If ever there was a TRUE SYMBOL of a what a Catholic priest should be All you needed to see was Father Ed.!!! It was the right calling and the right person to be a priest.

Vicnaja pamjat Eternal Memory Fr Ed RIP

Father Ed, you have gone to the place set aside for you by the Father. While Shirley and I will miss you, we are happy for you. For, as the Book of Wisdom teaches, "the souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment shall touch them." We were so blessed to have you as part of our lives. You were always there for us and we cherished your love and friendship. Remember us who are still here.
We love you!

Shirley and Tom McHale
Southport, North Carolina

I miss you Father. You were Special. I'm happy to have From Head to Heart. Rest with our Lord, whom you LOVE! Joan Pilz

If it were possible for every person whose heart and life were touched by the presence of this beautiful man to join hearts and hands, I believe that circle could change the world. Whether you walked the walk with him or simply met in passing, you were touched. He truly lived as the heart, hands and feet of Jesus. We have been blessed and changed forever by his love and friendship. We are saddened by his passing but know there is great rejoicing in Heaven. My condolences to the McLean family. Thank you Father Ed for the gift of your life. Be at peace. With love, Sarah Monteleone and family

When I was very sick, (more than once) Father Ed. would call me and instead of saying hello he would sing this " I just called to say I love you. I just called to say I care"

He was a very good friend to Joel and I and I hope we were to him also. No, I know we were.

I will miss you Father Ed, but I am so happy you are with your Friend and Father Jesus and the Holy Spirit that was so evident was a part of your life.

I will love you while I am waiting for my turn to see Jesus in Heaven and Love you more there.


Love Cheryl

To Father McLean family;


It was an honor to know him. He was just a beautiful person full of great words when was most needed. I have talked to him often and he will always be in my heart. He had beautiful masses and he talked to each of us after mass .

Father Ed was one of the most special, kind, loving and peaceful people I have known. He inspired many through his words and actions. We will miss him. He is at peace with our Lord. Mike

Whatever our faith, or the lack of it, Father Ed, you are indeed the most believable, honest to God stand-in for Jesus. We knew this the moment we met you. You own the touch, the human touch that gave us all a reason to believe. Oh, even more than that, you gave us unconditionally the inspiration to act on that love and confirm it in others from the head to the heart..

Never will I forget such a lovely man of God. So supportive, so encouraging, always healing with his gentle ways; a man who knew the heart of God. I can see his smile and his shiney bald head just beaming in the presence of our Lord! Thanks and comfort to all who helped shape and support his ministry.

November 20 2015,

When I was young Father MCLean saved my spirtual and emotional life. I have never forgotten him.

I have attended his "Journey from the Head to the Heart" series and was very moved.

I am sorry to learn of his passing.
I truely believe he is with God the Father.

Blessings to All,
Diana

Thinking of you all as you say good bye to such a great person. RIP Fr. Ed.

I've known Fr. Ed since the early 1970s from the Catholic Book Store Mass. He has made such a difference in our world to so many. To all his family and friends, may the love of other friends bring you comfort and the love of God bring you peace.

He taught us to pray, to love and to always see the face of God amongst us. He was our spiritual advisor. We will miss him but know he is happy and at peace. God knew what he was doing when he guided Father Ed to be a priest.
The Shea Family

So blessed to have been introduced to him by my other Mother, Lorraine Cable. I didn't get to know him til later in his life...although I went to his lecture years prior at Sacred Heart Church in Southbury...was blessed to participate in two of his retreats at Our Lady of Hope..

May you find "What it's all about, Alfie"...although I think you knew and taught us all along...it's the love - you wore it well

My deepest sympathies to the family of Father McLean. He was a special man and I will never forget him. He traveled to Cleveland Ohio with my family on a United plane back in 1971 to officiate at my brothers wedding. I remember him blessing the left wing of the plane before we boarded. He also officiated at the funeral services for my mom when she passed away at 49 years old to cancer. He was there for her often to provide spiritual guidance during her struggles with cancer. In 1976 he married my husband and I. I used to love to visit him at the Catholic book store on Market street. He will always hold a special place in my heart. He was a true soldier of God. Rest in peace Fr. McLean. Always. Jeanne St. James Roush

To the family of father / Rev. Edward J. McLean.

He was a sweet and kind person, i met him at the little church on market street in Hartford CT. He will be truly missed. my prayers are with you.

Love sister

I was blessed to know Fr. Ed when he was at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, and to go on retreats he gave.

Fr. Ed was a humble and deeply spiritual man, and a truly gifted priest. He exuded God's love to all he met.

His series "Journey From the Head to the Heart" was a turning point in my life. He helped me to bridge "the longest 18 inches in the universe".

I will always remember the reverent way he celebrated Mass, his engaging homilies, his smiling face and loving presence, and his sense of humor.

As Jesus said, "Well done, good and faithful servant".

You will be sorely missed....

Am sad I did not get to Connecticut to see you Uncle Ed before you passed but know you are now free and flying high with the angles i.e. Father Louie and Father Jake. Memories of all the wonderful trips to The Villa and especially when you joined us. Until we meet again, Peggy, Patty, Penny, Polly, and Pam.

Father Ed was the kindest, most engaging priest I've ever met. He had such a way of making me feel so special when he spoke to me, and he never got distracted by the line of other adoring parishioners waiting to say hello to him and feel his warmth. He was truly present and sincere. I attended mass at St Brigids as a child, and then at the Catholic bookstore in Hartford during my lunch break from my internship as a teen. He baptized my sister and also led her through her first holy communion and then celebrated with our family. When I got married a couple years ago in Ma I had wished he could have officiated my wedding. Much love to Father Ed and all of the people he has touched over his many years in service to the community. You will be forever remembered and missed dearly.

Thank you Uncle Eddie for all the wonderful memories, lots of laughs, and lots of LOVE! A great man who will be greatly missed. Now you can dance in heaven with Uncle Louie, Mac, And Cochran. Hugs to your family and miss you already.

Father Ed, our Father, our Brother, our friend, our Spiritual Leader and now our Saint Edward.

There will be no Sound System feedback in Heaven.

With love, Chery and Joel Pelletier

Fr. Ed was the greatest, and truly one of a kind.
Although he always joked two Ed's are better than one, he was clearly the better man. He will be missed by all.

Thank you for teaching us all to love, pray and always see the face of God. With love,
The Shea Family

I love you, Father. You brought light into the darkness.

Fr Ed
You have touched our lives in so many ways. Your gentleness and kind heart have made you the man you are and always will be remembered as. Those who have gone before you anxiously await your warm embrace, those of us left behind will miss that comfort. Thank you for all your love, continue to watch over us.
With a heavy heart we say goodbye,
Jack and Noreen Conway

To the family of Fr. Ed, my family had the pleasure of hearing his homilies at St. Elizabeth Seton which were always heartfelt. His personal stories in relation to the Gospels resonated with us bringing smiles to our faces. Once in Reconciliation he told me to give myself a hug because that is what Jesus would do. He strengthened our faith and we are thankful for this. As a Faith Formation teacher, I can attest to his wonderful connection to the kids - often asking them how old they were and stating he was once that age too! He was the face and heart of Jesus on earth, may he rest in God's peace.

Ed was a great man and priest. Aways ahead of the crowd - leading by example, information and enthusiasm. Thank you, Ed.

To the family of Father Ed, thank you for sharing such a wonderful man with all of us. I attended masses at the Catholic Book Store in Hartford CT and shared in the wonderful community he developed there. He was a very special people person who served us very well. He was such a holy man and we all loved him.

I have so many memories of the lessons learned from Father's homilies during his years at St. Brigid parish. To this day, whenever I say a Hail Mary, I say it the way he taught it. He suggested that instead of saying "pray for us sinners", to insert a person's name instead. He said that it helped you to think about each person you are praying for and you have a picture of that person in your mind as you are praying. I have adapted that prayer here in his memory.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for Father McClean, now and and forever. Amen.
With deepest sympathy to his family,

To the family of Fr. Ed: My sincerest and deepest condolences. He was the most wonderful priest that my husband and I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. We loved him immensely. He was very quick to extend a special blessing to my husband when he was diagnosed with cancer. Fr Ed was truly a people priest, loved his vocation and his parishioners. He will be greatly missed. Heaven has gained another angel. You're gentleness, love, kind words, jokes and smile will be deeply missed.

I was truly blessed to have known Father Ed while he served at St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Rocky Hill. His sermons were beautiful and always filled with hope. He touched my heart with his kindness, love, and warmth, and I shall never forget him. I take comfort knowing that this bright light is now shining in heaven.

My condolences to his family and friends.

I started attending daily Mass at the Catholic Bookstore (CBS)during Lent in 1977 at the suggestion of my Mom. It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship I established with Father McLean. Later in 1977 my Mom was diagnosed with Lymphoma, dying on December 27, 1977. Thanks to Father McLean and the community of the CBS I found the strength to endure her untimely loss. As time progressed I became a Eucharistic Minister at CBS and on April 19, 1980 my wife and I were honored to be married with Father McLean officiating.
My family and I will always cherish our fond memories of Father McLean and know he is now numbered among the Saints in heaven.
How fitting it is to see that donations are sought for the House of Bread, the first food pantry I had ever heard of through him.
Father, may the road rise to meet you, the wind be always at your back and until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of His hand.....

With deepest sympathy during your time of mourning.