Father Stephen Joseph McNally, 69, pastor of The Church of Transfiguration in Fincastle, Saint John’s in New Castle, Saint Joseph’s Clifton Forge, and Sacred Heart in Covington past away last night (1/4).

He originally considered a career in Law Enforcment and earned a degree in Criminal Justice before entering the seminary. He served as a Chaplin at the US Embassy in Bonn, Germany, as well as for the police and sheriff’s offices of Bedford County.

He severed at the following churches:

• As a deacon at Our Lady of Nazareth (1985-1986
• Upon becoming a priest on May 17, 1986, as Associate Pastor of Holy Spirit in Virginia Beach and Saint Bede Williamsburg until 1991
• As pastor from 1991 to 1995 Saint Paschal in South Boston and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary in Brookneal
• From 1995 to 2001, he was stationed at the United States Embassy in Bonn, Germany as the Chaplin to the United States Mission while serving the Saint Thomas More Community.
• In 2001 he returned to Virginia and was assigned as pastor of Holy Name of Mary in Bedford.
• In 2009 he became pastor of the Church of the Transfiguration in Fincastle and Saint John the Baptist in Newcastle
• In 2011 he was given pastoral oversight of Saint Joseph in Clifton Forge and Sacred Heart in Covington, in addition to the previous.

Among the parishes that he served that have honored him, Holy Name of Mary in Bedford named their Social Hall after him.

Father McNally’s body will lie in repose at the Church of the Transfiguration from 2:00 to 8:00 PM on Monday January 16th. A Parish Vigil will be held at 7 PM, there.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Nazareth, Roanoke on Tuesday January 17 at Noon with Bishop Knestout officiating and brother priests of the Diocese of Richmond con-celebrating. It will be live streamed

Burial will be held at Godwin Cemetery in Fincastle.

Father Joe passed away on Tuesday December 13, in Atlanta of COVID and pneumonia. Council 562 knew him as pastor of Our Lady of Nazareth from 1997 to 2019, one of the three churches which the council covers. He moved to Saint Bede in Williamsburg in 2019.

Previous assignments include serving as pastor of Holy Cross, Lynchburg (1980-1984); Resurrection, Moneta (1984-1988 and 2005- 2009); Holy Name of Mary, Bedford (1984-1988); Christ the King, Norfolk (1988-1997); and St. Francis of Assisi, Rocky Mount (2005-2009).

Per Saint Bede’s website:

Sunday, December 18 at 7pm
Vigil for the Deceased with Reception of the Body at Saint Bede Catholic Church
Monsignor Lehman will lie in repose for vigil until 9pm

Monday, December 19 from 4pm-6pm
Visitation at Saint Bede Catholic Church

Monday, December 19 at 6pm
Funeral Mass at Saint Bede Catholic Church
The Funeral Mass for Monsignor Lehman will also be livestreamed. Please visit https://bedeva.org/ .

Monday, December 19 following the funeral Mass Reception
Reception to follow in Kaplan Parish Hall