Inducted in 2013
Charismatic Healer; Author
Co-Founder, Peace of Christ Prayer Ministry, Bronx, NY

Induction Video

Born on October 29, 1935, Peter McCall grew up on Beechmont Terrace in Yonkers, New York in a family with strong Fordham roots. His father, Ambrose McCall, Sr., a prominent attorney and assistant US attorney general, had graduated from the Prep in 1911, from the College in 1916 and from Fordham Law in 1919. Peter’s mother was Vera Rush McCall, a homemaker, a member of the Yonkers Board of Education, and an administrator of nursing aides at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Yonkers. Vera’s mother, Elizabeth Rush, lived with the family when Peter was young. She was the widow of Joseph Rush, a city clerk in Yonkers, whom records seem to indicate may have attended Fordham’s Third Division, Rose Hill’s middle school department which was closed in 1920.
 
Peter was the youngest of six children. His older brothers Ambrose, Thomas and Richard all graduated from the Prep in 1938, 1939 and 1943, respectively. Ambrose became an attorney and went into practice with his father. Thomas entered the Jesuits. There was another McCall brother, John, as well as a sister, Vera.
 
During his Hughes Hall days, Peter was president of the Senior Council and a gifted runner under the guidance of Prep track legend and fellow Hall of Honor member, Coach Joseph Fox. McCall was the CHSAA 440 champion in 1953. In the Fordham Prep yearbook of 1954, Peter is called out as “Senior with the Most School Spirit, “Most Popular” and “The Grandest Fellow at the Prep.” Even then, his classmates were likely recognizing in him the grace and the compassion that so many would sense throughout his vocation.
 
People who knew McCall said that he wanted to become a Jesuit, but he had a severe stutter that he felt would preclude teaching. So he entered the Capuchin Franciscans instead, beginning his novitiate soon after his Prep graduation in 1954, turning down track scholarships at Georgetown and Notre Dame to do so. His classmates were stunned. He attended St. Anthony’s College in Hudson, New Hampshire, where he made his vows. There he was given the religious name Aloysius. As for his speech disorder, while in the seminary, he was involved in a speech therapy program that helped him bring his stutter under control.
 
Peter was ordained in 1962. He would go on to earn a master’s degree in educational psychology from Fordham University, where he also studied Scripture and spirituality. 
 
After his ordination, McCall served two years in East Harlem, New York at Our Lady Queen of Angels before embarking on a long missionary assignment in Guam, where he served for nearly a decade at Father Duenas Memorial High School. There he resumed the use of his baptismal name, Peter. He was so involved with every aspect of parish, school and student life, that it seemed he was always rushing to a meeting, and so he acquired the nickname Meetin’ Pete.
 
In 1974, he returned to New York and served at Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers.
 
Inspired by priests in a charismatic prayer group, McCall began working in a healing ministry in 1978. Together with Maryanne Lacey, a Catholic laywoman, McCall founded the Peace of Christ Prayer Ministry which helped men and women with physical or emotional difficulties focus on the healing power of Christ rather than their personal difficulties and trials. Prayers services started in the chapel at Sacred Heart, and then healing masses were conducted at the chapel of the Sacramentine Sisters in Yonkers. He gained a wide following as an inspirational preacher, and he was soon joined by a team of lay assistants    

In 1981, McCall received permission from his order to work full-time in this charismatic healing ministry, and also began conducting small retreats focusing on the Eucharist and leading pilgrimages to Marian shrines both in North America and in Europe.
 
His following grew, and instead of Meetin’ Pete, some began calling him The Miracle Worker of Westchester. He conducted services every Tuesday at Sacred Heart in Dobbs Ferry, New York and also at nearby Our Lady of Victory Academy. Thousands attended these services for what Fr. McCall would term “generational healing," or in other words, “keeping what is good from our inheritance and rejecting what is harmful, whether it be alcoholism, drug addiction, depression — whatever the dysfunction.”
 
Hundreds of people testifiy to having experienced God’s healing in mind, soul or body using the prayer techniques offered at Father’s services.
 
In 1985, McCall and Lacy published An Invitation to Healing in which they outlined some basic assumptions about healing:

• • There is always a sense of mystery about healing and healing prayer.
  • God wills health and wholeness.
  • We are all joined by love.
  • Forgiveness is the means to healing.
  • Healing is both natural and supernatural.
  • Healing involves reconditioning our mind and body to respond differently than in the past.
  • Healing involves respect for our minds.
  • Sickness always offers us a choice.
  • Discernment is to healing prayer what diagnosis is to medicine.

Rev. Peter J. McCall died in 2001. He is buried in the Friar’s Cemetery at Sacred Heart Church in Yonkers.

Born on October 29, 1935, Peter McCall grew up on Beechmont Terrace in Yonkers, New York in a family with strong Fordham roots. His father, Ambrose McCall, Sr., a prominent attorney and assistant US attorney general, had graduated from the Prep in 1911, from the College in 1916 and from Fordham Law in 1919. Peter’s mother was Vera Rush McCall, a homemaker, a member of the Yonkers Board of Education, and an administrator of nursing aides at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Yonkers. Vera’s mother, Elizabeth Rush, also lived with the family when Peter was young. She was the widow of Joseph Rush, a city clerk in Yonkers, whom records seem to indicate may have attended Fordham’s Third Division, Rose Hill’s middle school department which was closed in 1920.
 
Peter was the youngest of six children. His older brothers Ambrose, Thomas and Richard graduated from the Prep in 1938, 1939 and 1943, respectively. Ambrose became an attorney and went into practice with his father. Thomas entered the Jesuits. There was another McCall brother, John, as well as a sister, Vera.
 
During his Hughes Hall days, Peter was president of the Senior Council and a gifted runner under the guidance of Prep track legend and fellow Hall of Honor member, Coach Joseph Fox. McCall was the CHSAA 440 champion in 1953. In the Fordham Prep yearbook of 1954, Peter is called out as “Senior with the Most School Spirit, “Most Popular” and “The Grandest Fellow at the Prep.” Even then, his classmates were likely recognizing in him the grace and the compassion that so many would sense throughout his vocation.
 
People who knew McCall said that he wanted to become a Jesuit, but he had a severe stutter that he felt would preclude teaching.  He would entered the Capuchin Franciscans instead, beginning his novitiate soon after his Prep graduation in 1954, and — stunning his classmates — turning down track scholarships at Georgetown and Notre Dame to do so. His classmates were stunned. He attended St. Anthony’s College in Hudson, New Hampshire, where he made his vows. There he was given the religious name Aloysius. As for his speech disorder, while in the seminary, he was involved in a speech therapy program that helped him bring his stutter under control.
 
Fr. McCall was ordained in 1962. He would go on to earn a master’s degree in educational psychology from Fordham University, where he also studied Scripture and spirituality. 
 
After his ordination, McCall served two years in East Harlem, New York at Our Lady Queen of Angels before embarking on a long missionary assignment in Guam, where he served for nearly a decade at Father Duenas Memorial High School. There he resumed the use of his baptismal name, Peter. He was so involved with every aspect of parish, school and student life, that it seemed he was always rushing to a meeting, and so he acquired the nickname "Meetin’ Pete."
 
In 1974, he returned to New York and served at Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers.

Inspired by priests in a charismatic prayer group, McCall began working in a healing ministry in 1978. Together with Maryanne Lacey, a Catholic laywoman, McCall founded the Peace of Christ Prayer Ministry which helped men and women with physical or emotional difficulties focus on the healing power of Christ rather than their personal difficulties and trials. Prayers services started in the chapel at Sacred Heart, and then healing masses were conducted at the chapel of the Sacramentine Sisters in Yonkers. He gained a wide following as an inspirational preacher, and he was soon joined by a team of lay assistants.

In 1981, McCall received permission from his order to work full-time in this charismatic healing ministry, and also began conducting small retreats focusing on the Eucharist and leading pilgrimages to Marian shrines both in North America and in Europe.

His following grew, and instead of Meetin’ Pete, some began calling him The Miracle Worker of Westchester. He conducted services every Tuesday at Sacred Heart in Dobbs Ferry, New York and also at nearby Our Lady of Victory Academy. Thousands attended these services for what Fr. McCall would term “generational healing," or in other words, “keeping what is good from our inheritance and rejecting what is harmful, whether it be alcoholism, drug addiction, depression — whatever the dysfunction.”

Hundreds of people testifiy to having experienced God’s healing in mind, soul or body using the prayer techniques offered at Father’s services.

In 1985, McCall and Lacy published An Invitation to Healing in which they outlined some basic assumptions about healing:

• • There is always a sense of mystery about healing and healing prayer.
  • God wills health and wholeness.
  • We are all joined by love.
  • Forgiveness is the means to healing.
  • Healing is both natural and supernatural.
  • Healing involves reconditioning our mind and body to respond differently than in the past.
  • Healing involves respect for our minds.
  • Sickness always offers us a choice.
  • Discernment is to healing prayer what diagnosis is to medicine.

Rev. Peter J. McCall died in 2001. He is buried in the Friar’s Cemetery at Sacred Heart Church in Yonkers.

There is nothing but love in God.

--Rev. Peter J. McCall