Background
Known as P.J., McGrath was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
Known as P.J., McGrath was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
McGrath attended Saint John's Seminary in Waterford Republic of Ireland, where he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1970.
He served as the parochial vicar of Saint Anne of the Sunset Parish in San Francisco, and in the archdiocesan tribunal. He went to Rome to continue his education and earned a doctorate in Canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University in 1977. He returned to San Francisco and was appointed the Vice-Officialis, then Officialis, of the archdiocesan tribunal and pastor of the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption.
McGrath was named auxiliary bishop of San Francisco and titular bishop of Allegheny on December 6, 1988, and consecrated on January 25, 1989 at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption.
Archbishop John Raphael Quinn served as his principal consecrator. McGrath was named coadjutor bishop of San Jose by Pope John Paul II on June 30, 1998, and became the ordinary of the diocese upon the retirement of bishop Pierre DuMaine on November 27, 1999.