Msgr. John McDermott was born on March 19, 1963 in Red Bank, NJ. He is the seventh of ten children born to Robert and Jacqueline McDermott. Although born in NJ, and proud of his Garden State roots, he was raised from the age of 2 to 16 in Hudson MA. He attended St. Michael Grammar School and two years at Hudson Catholic High School. Following a move to Central Valley, NY, he graduated from Monroe-Woodbury HS. His first year of college was spent at the United States Coast Guard Academy, followed by three years at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC. He graduated with a double major in Political Science and Philosophy. He entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD in the Fall of 1985 where he earned an M.Div. and M.A. in theology and was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Burlington on June 3, 1989.
He has served at St. Augustine Parish, Montpelier; St. Mark Parish, Burlington; St. Mary Parish, Middlebury; St. Thomas and St. Mary Parishes, Underhill/Cambridge; and Christ the King/ St. Anthony Parish, Burlington.
Having completed a degree in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America, since 2004, he has served full time in the Chancery Office of the Diocese of Burlington. He serves as Chancellor, Moderator of the Curia and Vicar General, and sits on many consultative boards of the Diocese. He served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese from January 3, 2014 until January 29, 2015.
He was named a Chaplain to His Holiness in 2008 and a Prelate of Honor in 2012, meaning he enjoys the honorific title of Monsignor.
He enjoys reading, baking, running, golfing and working on household projects.