OMAGH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO DEPARTING CLERGY
Omagh council chairman pays tribute to departing clergy
THE chairman of Omagh District Council,, Mr. Pat McDonnell, paid tribute to Rev. Michael Keaveney and Rev. Kevin Mullan at a reception in the council offices, to mark their departures from their respective parishes for pastures new.
Mr. McDonnell, in referring first to Fr. Keaveney said: "Fr. Keaveney has given 10 years of outstanding service to the parish of Drumragh as parish priest. Monsignor Martin Rooney was not an easy act to follow, but Fr. Keaveney brought his own personality and warmth to the parish.
"He oversaw the completion of St. Joseph's Hall, the renovation and restoration of the Sacred Heart Church in time for the centenary of the church in 1999, the construction of the Station Centre as a cross-community centre for the young people of Omagh and, of course, was instrumental in the establishment of the Churches Forum which brought together the four main churches in a bond of ecumenism," he said.
In responding, Fr. Keaveney recalled his time in Omagh with great affection and said that he had made so many friends in his time as parish priest.
"The parish of Drumragh has been a marvellous place to serve. The people are warm and welcoming and I was delighted to be able to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of my ordination to the priesthood in the parish.
Team effort
"As Councillor McDonnell has already said, much has been achieved during my pastorship but I cannot claim the credit, as it was very much a team effort. There is, however, still much work to be done, but I am confident that my successor Monsignor Joe Donnelly, will bring these projects forward to a successful conclusion," he said.
Turning to Fr. Mullan, Mr. McDonnell pointed out that this cleric was better known to him, as they had been at the Christian Brothers School in Omagh at the same time.
Even then, he said, Fr. Kevin was held up as a paragon of virtue to the other students and was earmarked for great things. Fr. Mullan, he added, had always been a firm believer in reaching out to other denominations throughout his 30-year ministry.
"Indeed, in Limavady, his attempts to engage in improved community relations met with fierce opposition. However, his desire to improve inter-church relations continued unabated and when he returned to his home town in 1991 as curate in Cappagh parish, Fr. Kevin forged close relations, and friendships with his fellow clerics of other denominations," said the chairman.
Mr. McDonnell added: "He was a key figure in the setting up of the Churches Forum and became very much the public face for the people of Omagh in the media in the aftermath of the bomb. Fr. Kevin always conveyed the suffering and grief of the people of the district in such a sympathetic and human way.
"The areas of Strathroy and Lisanelly will greatly miss their popular curate and his trusty ally, Misty the dog. However, the plus side is that he has moved just down the road to the parish of Langfield as parish priest and, of course, closer to Dromore," he said.
Fr. Mullan, in responding, thanked Mr. McDonnell for 'this great honour' and said he felt humbled to have been recognised in this way for simply doing his job. He added that he felt a great sadness in leaving behind all his parishioners who he regarded as friends, but was looking forward to the new challenge of taking over his own parish for the first time.
Mr. McDonnell presented both clerics with engraved Tyrone Crystal Celtic Crosses as a token of the esteem in which they are held in the district.
THE chairman of Omagh District Council,, Mr. Pat McDonnell, paid tribute to Rev. Michael Keaveney and Rev. Kevin Mullan at a reception in the council offices, to mark their departures from their respective parishes for pastures new.
Mr. McDonnell, in referring first to Fr. Keaveney said: "Fr. Keaveney has given 10 years of outstanding service to the parish of Drumragh as parish priest. Monsignor Martin Rooney was not an easy act to follow, but Fr. Keaveney brought his own personality and warmth to the parish.
"He oversaw the completion of St. Joseph's Hall, the renovation and restoration of the Sacred Heart Church in time for the centenary of the church in 1999, the construction of the Station Centre as a cross-community centre for the young people of Omagh and, of course, was instrumental in the establishment of the Churches Forum which brought together the four main churches in a bond of ecumenism," he said.
In responding, Fr. Keaveney recalled his time in Omagh with great affection and said that he had made so many friends in his time as parish priest.
"The parish of Drumragh has been a marvellous place to serve. The people are warm and welcoming and I was delighted to be able to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of my ordination to the priesthood in the parish.
Team effort
"As Councillor McDonnell has already said, much has been achieved during my pastorship but I cannot claim the credit, as it was very much a team effort. There is, however, still much work to be done, but I am confident that my successor Monsignor Joe Donnelly, will bring these projects forward to a successful conclusion," he said.
Turning to Fr. Mullan, Mr. McDonnell pointed out that this cleric was better known to him, as they had been at the Christian Brothers School in Omagh at the same time.
Even then, he said, Fr. Kevin was held up as a paragon of virtue to the other students and was earmarked for great things. Fr. Mullan, he added, had always been a firm believer in reaching out to other denominations throughout his 30-year ministry.
"Indeed, in Limavady, his attempts to engage in improved community relations met with fierce opposition. However, his desire to improve inter-church relations continued unabated and when he returned to his home town in 1991 as curate in Cappagh parish, Fr. Kevin forged close relations, and friendships with his fellow clerics of other denominations," said the chairman.
Mr. McDonnell added: "He was a key figure in the setting up of the Churches Forum and became very much the public face for the people of Omagh in the media in the aftermath of the bomb. Fr. Kevin always conveyed the suffering and grief of the people of the district in such a sympathetic and human way.
"The areas of Strathroy and Lisanelly will greatly miss their popular curate and his trusty ally, Misty the dog. However, the plus side is that he has moved just down the road to the parish of Langfield as parish priest and, of course, closer to Dromore," he said.
Fr. Mullan, in responding, thanked Mr. McDonnell for 'this great honour' and said he felt humbled to have been recognised in this way for simply doing his job. He added that he felt a great sadness in leaving behind all his parishioners who he regarded as friends, but was looking forward to the new challenge of taking over his own parish for the first time.
Mr. McDonnell presented both clerics with engraved Tyrone Crystal Celtic Crosses as a token of the esteem in which they are held in the district.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1125
Published Date: 24-Oct-02
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