Monsignor McCarthy has had an extensive education, from Yale University (B.A.), University of Chicago Law School (J.D.), Pontifical Gregorian University (S.T.B.), and Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (J.C.L. and J.C.D). He has military experience in the United States Army as a second lieutenant and as an instructor at the U.S. Army Intelligence School. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 20, 1984. He has served as interim Parochial Vicar at St. Francis Parish, Naugatuck, Parochial Vicar at Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Waterbury, Adjutant Judicial Vicar and Judicial Vicar for the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Hartford and Pastor of Resurrection Parish in Wallingford. He currently serves as Rector of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford and Chancellor of the Archdiocese.  He is also a Judge and Defender of the Bond, as well as Promoter of Justice, for the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Hartford.