OMAGH LOSES POPULAR PRIESTS AS NEW CLERICAL CHANGES ARE ANNOUNCED
Omagh loses popular priests as new clerical changes are announced
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE recent clerical changes announced by Bishop Seamus Hegarty has had a major impact in the Omagh area with the loss of some very popular priests.
Fr Michael Keaveny who has been parish priest at Drumragh since 1994, is retiring from his post to take up a post of curate in Faughanvaule in Co Derry.
Fr Keaveny will be replaced by Monsignor Joseph Donnelly, who has been PP in Iskaheen.
Monsignor Donnelly was born in the Parish of Ballinascreen in 1942. He was educated at Straw PS Draperstown, St Columb's College Derry, St Patrick's College Maynooth and the Catholic University Washington DC.
He was ordained in 1966 and has served in the parishes of Omagh and Carnhill and has been Parish Priest of Iskaheen since 1996. He also served as Spiritual Director of St Columb's College, Derry and was director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for a considerable time.
VICAR FORANE
Monsignor Donnelly served as Vicar General of the diocese from 1993 - 2000 in which capacity he was made a Prelate of Honour with the title of Monsignor. In addition to being appointed Parish Priest of Drumragh, Monsignor Donnelly will also succeed Father Michael Keaveny as Vicar Forane for the Tyrone Deanery.
Bishop Seamus Hegarty will install Monsignor Donnelly as the new Parish of Drumragh in Sacred Heart Church, Omagh on Saturday 31 August at 7.30pm.
Fr Kevin Mullan who has been curate in Cappagh parish for many years is leaving to take up a parish priest's position in Langfield, Drumquin.
Fr Mullan is to be replaced by Fr Francis Bradley who hails from Gortin, but who has been Diocesan Secretary.
During his years in Omagh, Fr Mullan became very much a public figure, albeit it was not a role he relished. A native of Omagh, he became the focus of world media attention in the days after the 1998 bombing.
Fr Mullan was once again back in the spotlight a year later when the body of one of his parishioners was found in the foundations of a house. Sylvia Fleming was pregnant when she was murdered and her body mutilated and buried.
The priest had the task of administering the Last Rites to the 17 year old and he was later chief celebrant at her Requiem Mass.
Joe Byrne, SDLP MLA for West Tyrone, has paid tribute to Fr Mullan saying 'that he was a leader of the Omagh community who helped Omagh through several very traumatic events'.
Mr Byrne said: "Fr Mullan will be missed by the people of Cappagh parish and Omagh. He was more than a priest, he was a leader of the Omagh community and a community activist who has helped the people of this town through several very traumatic events, in particular the 1998 bombing outrage."
OTHER APPOINTMENTS
Other clerical changes announced by Bishop Seamus Hegarty include:
The Reverend Patrick Grant PP Donaghmore (Killygordon) to retire becoming Pastor Emeritus
Monsignor Joseph Donnelly PP Iskaheen to become PP Drumragh (Omagh) and Vicar Forane for the Tyrone Deanery
The Reverend Robert Devine PP Langfield (Drumquin) to be PP Donaghmore (Killygordon)
The Reverend John Farren Adm St Eugene's Cathedral to become PP Iskaheen
The Very Reverend Michael Canny CC Glendermott (Waterside) to become Adm St Eugene's Cathedral
The Reverend Charles Logue recently returned from sabbatical leave to be CC Kilrea
The Reverend Edward McGuiness CC Kilrea to be CC Buncrana
The Reverend Paul Fraser returns from postgraduate studies to be CC Glendermott (Waterside)
The Reverend Colm O'Doherty St Columb's College to become CC Glendermott (Waterside)
The Reverend Kevin McElhennon recently returned from postgraduate studies to resume appointment as Diocesan Secretary
The Reverend Shane Bradley CC Buncrana to be CC St Joseph's Galliagh
The Reverend Paul Porter CC Glendermott (Waterside) to undertake sabbatical leave
The Reverend Francis Bradley Diocesan Secretary to be CC Cappagh (Killyclogher) and Diocesan Master of Ceremonies
The Reverend Christopher Ferguson recently ordained to complete post-graduate studies in Dogmatic theology at St Patrick's College Maynooth
Reverend Gerard Mongan deacon St Joseph's Galliagh to undertake postgraduate studies in Marriage and the Family at the John Paul II Institute, Rome
Reverend John McDevitt recently ordained deacon to minister in the Parish of Glendermott (Waterside)
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE recent clerical changes announced by Bishop Seamus Hegarty has had a major impact in the Omagh area with the loss of some very popular priests.
Fr Michael Keaveny who has been parish priest at Drumragh since 1994, is retiring from his post to take up a post of curate in Faughanvaule in Co Derry.
Fr Keaveny will be replaced by Monsignor Joseph Donnelly, who has been PP in Iskaheen.
Monsignor Donnelly was born in the Parish of Ballinascreen in 1942. He was educated at Straw PS Draperstown, St Columb's College Derry, St Patrick's College Maynooth and the Catholic University Washington DC.
He was ordained in 1966 and has served in the parishes of Omagh and Carnhill and has been Parish Priest of Iskaheen since 1996. He also served as Spiritual Director of St Columb's College, Derry and was director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for a considerable time.
VICAR FORANE
Monsignor Donnelly served as Vicar General of the diocese from 1993 - 2000 in which capacity he was made a Prelate of Honour with the title of Monsignor. In addition to being appointed Parish Priest of Drumragh, Monsignor Donnelly will also succeed Father Michael Keaveny as Vicar Forane for the Tyrone Deanery.
Bishop Seamus Hegarty will install Monsignor Donnelly as the new Parish of Drumragh in Sacred Heart Church, Omagh on Saturday 31 August at 7.30pm.
Fr Kevin Mullan who has been curate in Cappagh parish for many years is leaving to take up a parish priest's position in Langfield, Drumquin.
Fr Mullan is to be replaced by Fr Francis Bradley who hails from Gortin, but who has been Diocesan Secretary.
During his years in Omagh, Fr Mullan became very much a public figure, albeit it was not a role he relished. A native of Omagh, he became the focus of world media attention in the days after the 1998 bombing.
Fr Mullan was once again back in the spotlight a year later when the body of one of his parishioners was found in the foundations of a house. Sylvia Fleming was pregnant when she was murdered and her body mutilated and buried.
The priest had the task of administering the Last Rites to the 17 year old and he was later chief celebrant at her Requiem Mass.
Joe Byrne, SDLP MLA for West Tyrone, has paid tribute to Fr Mullan saying 'that he was a leader of the Omagh community who helped Omagh through several very traumatic events'.
Mr Byrne said: "Fr Mullan will be missed by the people of Cappagh parish and Omagh. He was more than a priest, he was a leader of the Omagh community and a community activist who has helped the people of this town through several very traumatic events, in particular the 1998 bombing outrage."
OTHER APPOINTMENTS
Other clerical changes announced by Bishop Seamus Hegarty include:
The Reverend Patrick Grant PP Donaghmore (Killygordon) to retire becoming Pastor Emeritus
Monsignor Joseph Donnelly PP Iskaheen to become PP Drumragh (Omagh) and Vicar Forane for the Tyrone Deanery
The Reverend Robert Devine PP Langfield (Drumquin) to be PP Donaghmore (Killygordon)
The Reverend John Farren Adm St Eugene's Cathedral to become PP Iskaheen
The Very Reverend Michael Canny CC Glendermott (Waterside) to become Adm St Eugene's Cathedral
The Reverend Charles Logue recently returned from sabbatical leave to be CC Kilrea
The Reverend Edward McGuiness CC Kilrea to be CC Buncrana
The Reverend Paul Fraser returns from postgraduate studies to be CC Glendermott (Waterside)
The Reverend Colm O'Doherty St Columb's College to become CC Glendermott (Waterside)
The Reverend Kevin McElhennon recently returned from postgraduate studies to resume appointment as Diocesan Secretary
The Reverend Shane Bradley CC Buncrana to be CC St Joseph's Galliagh
The Reverend Paul Porter CC Glendermott (Waterside) to undertake sabbatical leave
The Reverend Francis Bradley Diocesan Secretary to be CC Cappagh (Killyclogher) and Diocesan Master of Ceremonies
The Reverend Christopher Ferguson recently ordained to complete post-graduate studies in Dogmatic theology at St Patrick's College Maynooth
Reverend Gerard Mongan deacon St Joseph's Galliagh to undertake postgraduate studies in Marriage and the Family at the John Paul II Institute, Rome
Reverend John McDevitt recently ordained deacon to minister in the Parish of Glendermott (Waterside)
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1089
Published Date: 29-Aug-02
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