Columbans ‘who have gone before us with the sign of faith’ - November 2013 – November 2014

The obituaries of deceased Columban Sisters are taken from the website of the Missionary Sisters of St Columban: www.columbansisters.org

To our departed brothers and sisters
And to all who were pleasing to you
At their passing from this life,
Give kind admittance to your kingdom.
(Eucharistic Prayer II)

Fr Brian Gallagher
(8 December 1926 - 5 November 2014)

Fr Seán Holloway (29 October 2014)

Fr Clarence M. Beckley (1 May 2014)

Fr John D. Griffin (24 September 2014)

Fr Edward Dolan (22 April 2014)

Sr Helen Ryan SSC (2 September 2014)

Fr Peter Doyle (21 March 2014)

Sr Roberta Remillard SCC (15 August 2014)

Fr Eugene Griffin (4 March 2014)

Fr Cathal Coulter (8 August 2014)

Fr Leo Donnelly (4 February 2014)

Serafina Ranadi Vuda(31 May 2014)

Fr John O’Hara (20 December 2013)

Sr M Thomas Chan SSC (4 May 2014)

Sr Mary Austin Keohane SSC (23 November 2013)

 

 


Fr Brian Gallagher
8 December 1926 - 5 November 2014

Fr Brian A. Gallagher died on November 5 in Crestwood Nursing Home, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, having suffered declining health for several months.


Downings [Wikipedia]

Fr Seán Holloway (29 October 2014)

Columban Fr Seán Holloway RIP

 


Fr Seán Holloway
25 August 1921 - 29 October 2014

Fr Seán Holloway was born in Horseleap, County Offaly, Ireland, on 25 August 1921. He was educated at Horseleap National School, Tubber National School and St Finian’s College, Mullingar. He came to St Columbans, Dalgan Park, Navan, Ireland - known to Columbans simply as 'Dalgan' - in 1941 and was ordained priest there on 21 December 1947.

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Fr John D. Griffin (24 September 2014)


Fr John Griffin

Columban Fr John Griffin died in Wellington, New Zealand, 25 September 2014.  Here is an article about him written by his fellow Columban and New Zealander, Fr Michael Gormly, from the website of the Columbans in Australia and New Zealand and published in 2010. Fr Gormly used this article for his obituary of Fr Griffin, adding a few details.


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Sr Helen Ryan SSC (2 September 2014)

Sr Helen Ryan – A Person Orientated Missionary

A fitting tribute was paid to Sister Helen Ryan at her Funeral Mass on Thursday, 4 September in Magheramore by Columban Sister Anne Carbon who had known Helen at first hand as a dedicated missionary in the Philippines.

Mass Readings: Phil. 4:7-11; John 6:37-40

First of all my deepest sympathy to the sisters of Sr. Helen, Nessa and Ronnie, her cousins especially David and Joe who faithfully drove Nessa here to visit Helen, relatives and friends, who have come all the way  from Tipperary to say your goodbye to Sr. Helen.

We are gathered here this morning to allow us to see the reality that we will all die one day. We will be physically gone but our impact on others will be a living legacy for those whose lives we touched.

All of us present here have known and in some way have been touched by Helen’s faith and life. Some of you have known Helen at a much deeper level than I do. I may not fully capture the wonderful missionary life with which Helen has gifted the Congregation and especially to the people in the places she has journeyed, but I can joyfully say how much her very kind self, friendship and sincerity have touched my own life during the early part of my journey as a Postulant.

It started 21 years ago, when my Postulant Directress went to Chile as a delegate for the General Chapter, and Helen was asked to accompany me for the few months that she was away. Conversing with Helen always gave me a sense that she was interested and truly listened. One helpful challenge she gave me which I will never forget, was when I shared some difficulty with one of my companions. She gently challenged me by saying

“Anne, you have to know, why are you here – is it because of Jesus or because of the behaviour of that person?” That certainly opened my eyes and sharpened the direction of my vocation.

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Sr Roberta Remillard SCC (15 August 2014)

Sr Roberta Remillard – Words of Remembrance

Sister Roberta Remillard died peacefully in the German Nursing Home, West Roxbury, MA, USA, on Friday 15 August 2014.

Lord, we ask you to receive our Sister Roberta into the eternal joy of your Kingdom. As she endeavoured to honour you during her life, so now allow her to taste the everlasting happiness which you promised to your faithful followers. Amen

Funeral Mass was celebrated in St John Chrysostom Parish Church, 4750 Washington St., West Roxbury, on Wednesday, 20 August followed by interment in the local cemetery.

Words of Remembrance By Sr. Virgie Mozo

My thanks to you, Father Charlie Flaherty SSC as Chief Celebrant and Con-Celebrants Fathers John Burger SSC, Paul O’Malley SSC, Joe McSweeney SSC, Tae Moon Kwun SSC. Bill Sullivan SSC and Fr. Roland.

Good morning to each one of you.

As we gather today for this celebration of the life and death of Sr. Roberta Remillard we are particularly aware of Roberta’s two brothers, Lany and wife Pat and Jim and wife Joan and her sister Blanche who is in California, all of whom will miss her very much. Our deepest sympathy goes out to you and also to her nephews and nieces. We ask the God of all consolation to be with you at this difficult time.

Sister Roberta, or Vivian to her family, was a Columban Sister for 58 years. Therefore the Columban Family will also miss her because of her friendship with many of us down through the years.

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Fr Cathal Coulter (8 August 2014)

Columban Fr Cornelius Campion RIP


Fr Cornelius Kieran Campion
(1925 - 2014)

Fr Cornelius ('Con') Campion, who died on 26 July 2014, was born in Ballagh, Errill, County Laois, Ireland, on 26 July 1925. Educated at Errill National School and St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny, he came to St Columban's, Dalgan Park  in September 1943 and was ordained priest on 21 December 1949.

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Serafina Ranadi Vuda(31 May 2014)

Obituary of Serafina R. Vuda, Columban Lay Missionary


Serafina Ranadi Vuda
(24 August 1962 – 31 May 2014)

Born to Esira Vuda and Makarita Dicakau, Serafina was baptized by Columban Fr Arthur Tierney, in Navala, Ba. After elementary school, she attended Xavier College in Ba and St John's College in Levuka, Ovalau. In 1984 she graduated from Corpus Christi Primary Teachers’ College in Suva and taught in Navala, St Theresa, Ba and Stella Maris, Suva, during the following 12 years.

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Sr M Thomas Chan SSC (4 May 2014)

Sister M Thomas Chan – Funeral Mass and Homily

The Funeral Mass of Sister M Thomas Chan, who died on Sunday, 4 May 2014  in St Columban’s Nursing Home, Magheramore, Wicklow, took place on Tuesday, 6 May. The celebrant of the Mass was Fr Pat Donohoe, Chaplain, and Sister Redempta Twomey gave the Homily the text of which follows below.

Funeral Mass M Thomas Chan 6.5.2014 Magheramore                                                        
Rom 8: 35-38; Mt 10:37-42

Today, with the great Easter Alleluias still sounding in our hearts, we come to bury our dearly loved sister, Mary Thomas. She left us on Sunday, early in the morning of her ninety third birthday, to celebrate her birth to eternal life in heaven. This was surely the crowning birthday gift of her long life when, to quote the Preface, ‘the bright promise of immortality’ was at last realised in her. So, even as we grieve and feel the sharp severance of death, we are not without hope, believing that she is now where she so longed to be, in the heart of the Risen Lord.

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Fr Clarence M. Beckley (1 May 2014)

Columban Fr Clarence Beckley RIP


Fr Clarence R. Beckley 
(8 February 1939 - 1 May 2014) 

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Columban Fr Clarence Beckley who died in Dubuque, Iowa, USA, on Thursday 1 May.

Fr Clarence Ray Beckley was born on 8 February 1939, in Springville, Iowa, USA.

He attended Holy Rosary High School in La Motte, Iowa from which he graduated in June 1957. He then applied to the Columbans and attended St Columban’s College and Seminary, Milton, MA,September 1957 to June 1961. Spiritual Year was at St Columbans, Bristol,RI.  Philosophy and Theology studies followed at St Columban’s Major Seminary, Milton, MA. He was ordained there on 21 December 1966.

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Fr Edward Dolan (22 April 2014)

Columban Fr Edward Dolan RIP


Fr Edward Dolan (10 December 1933 - 22 April 2014)


Main Street, Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

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Fr Peter Doyle (21 March 2014)

Columban Fr Peter Doyle RIP


Fr Peter Doyle (died 21 March 2014)

The Good News Priest

by Fr Gary Walker 

Columban Fr Peter Doyle was farewelled from St Francis Xavier Church in West Mackay, Queensland by Bishop Emeritus, Rev Brian Heenan and a large contingent of priests and people who filled the Church on 2 April.

The homilist for the Requiem Mass was Fr Gary Walker, the Regional Director of the Columban Fathers in Australia and New Zealand.


Lima, Peru, where Fr Doyle worked for many years.

Since Fr Peter stipulated that he did not want flowers or a eulogy at his funeral service, Columban Fr Walker used readings to reflect the kind of priest that Fr Peter was. He was a Good News priest, like Jesus the High priest. He was compassionate and generous to the people whom he served and finally he was 'a man of God'; a man and priest with a well-developed sense of humor who was nevertheless serious about the 'things of God'.

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Fr Eugene Griffin (4 March 2014)

Columban Fr Peter Doyle RIP


Fr Eugene Griffin
(29 March 1930 - 4 March 2014)


Tulla, County Clare, near where Fr Griffin was born

Fr Eugene Griffin died in hospital in Limerick on 4 March 2014 after a long period of declining health. Born at Cragroe, County Clare, on 29 March 1930, he was educated at Cragroe National School, Parteen National School, Christian Brothersl School, Limerick, and St Munchen’s College, Limerick. He came to St Columban’s, Dalgan Park, in 1947 and was ordained on 21 December 1953.

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Fr Leo Donnelly (4 February 2014)

Columban Fr Leo Donnelly RIP


Fr Leo Donnelly
(17 February 1932 - 4 February 2014)

Fr Gary Walker, Regional Director of the Columbans in Australia and New Zealand, sent out this notice:

It is with sadness that I advise you Columban Fr Leo Donnelly died in Lima, Peru yesterday after a short illness.

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Fr John O’Hara (20 December 2013)

Columban Fr John O'Hara RIP


Fr John O'Hara (1930 - 2013)

Fr John O'Hara died on Friday evening 20 December at 10:30pm in St Vincent's Hospital  in Melbourne after a short illness. He was 83 years old. Only one month ago Father John was doing a supply in a nearby Church and declared that he was retiring from  then. The following Thursday he was ill and went by ambulance to St Vincent's Hospital. He suffered from liver cancer  and knew the diagnosis was terminal. He was quite relaxed talking about his impending death with his usual trademark  humour.

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Sr Mary Austin Keohane SSC (23 November 2013)

Sr Mary Austin Keohane RIP – Funeral Mass and Homily

Sister Mary Austin Keohane RIP  was buried in the Convent Cemetery on Monday, 25 November. The Funeral Mass was celebrated by Columban Father Pat Donohoe, Chaplain, Magheramore.

The Mass Homily (text below) was delivered by Sr Patricia Quigley, Congregational Vicar.  

“At around 7.30 a.m. last Saturday morning – the Feast of St. Columban – and the day before Sister Mary Austin’s 83rd birthday, in faith we believe that the words of Jesus in the Gospel which we have just heard were fulfilled “I shall return to take you with me, so that where I am you may be too.”

Sister Mary Austin’s going from us was so peaceful and gentle as if she was echoing the first line of our Gospel  and the words of Jesus “Do not let your hearts be troubled – trust in God and trust in me”.   And as we remember and reflect on her life, we realize that this was the thread that ran through it.  A gracious, generous and grateful lady, who loved people and life itself to the full.   She was ever ready to listen, to console and if there was any way she could help, she did it no matter what it cost her and she did it with enthusiasm and joy.  To use the phrase that she herself loved to quote “Life is a mystery to be lived not a problem to be solved.”

Mary Austin or Marie, as she was known by her family certainly witnessed to this trust in God when at 18 years of age she emigrated to Boston, United States – the only member of her family to do so.  Loving life to the full, she worked hard but also participated in the social life of the Irish community there. However, there was that deep desire in her to be generous with God and to make that love she had for people, fruitful, she began to think about religious life.  Lucky for us the family she was staying with in Cambridge, Mass was friendly with the Columban Fathers – Frs. Owen McGrath and Fintan Keegan – who on hearing of Marie’s researching of religious communities, suggested that she meet, as they put it, “our Sisters in Hyde Park” and the rest is history.