February 13

FR. PATRICK J. FARRELL was born in 1922 at Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland. He died in Dalgan, Ireland on February 13, 2004, having retired there the previous year. On completion of his secondary education in St. Mary’s College, Galway, Father Pat went to Dalgan in 1940, was ordained in 1946 and appointed to the Philippines where he spent the next fifty-six years. A perfectionist in everything he undertook, Father Pat spoke the local dialect with great fluency, enriched the liturgy with his special talents and applied his construction skills to a number of church buildings in Ozamiz, despite indifferent health over a long period. Father Pat is buried at Dalgan Park.

Frs. Robert Cullen & Patrick Farrell (upper right side of the picture) in Tangub, Mindanao

FR. JOHN LALOR was born in Cork City, Ireland in 1897. He was one of five Columbans killed in the Philippines in February 1945. Father John was educated at Mungret College, Limerick, Ireland where he completed his philosophy before joining the Society in 1921. He was ordained priest at Dalgan seminary in 1924 and assigned to Hanyang, China. After a period in captivity by Chinese bandits in 1928 he was assigned to the Philippines [1930]. Father John was attached to Malate parish and during the battle for Manila [1945] he worked under an assumed name, dressed as a doctor, in the Malate school which had been converted into a hospital. He was killed along with many helpers when a shell exploded in their air-raid shelter. Like his colleagues, Fathers Henaghan and Kelly, Father Lalor was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom by the United States government in 1948. His citation said: “He was an important link in the underground that supplied food, medicine, clothing and messages to prisoners of war and internees”. Father John is buried where he died.

February 14

FR. THOMAS O’GRADY died on February 14, 2002 at the Bon Secours Hospital, Dublin, Ireland after more than a year of indifferent health. Father Tom was born at Annacotty, County Limerick, Ireland in 1930 and later moved to Tubbercurry, County Sligo where he received his early education. After studying at St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghadereen, he came to Dalgan seminary in 1950 and was ordained there in December 1956. For the next forty years he ministered in and near Manila. “A man with a big heart and deep compassion, Father Tom was friend and brother to a countless number of people, especially the members of the Columban family”, was the tribute paid to him by a Columban confrere when news of his death reached Manila. Father Tom was a popular District Superior in Luzon for two terms. In 1999, he came to Britain and was Superior of the London house until illness struck him. Father Tom is buried at Dalgan Park.

February 19

 BSP. + PATRICK H. CRONIN was born in 1913 at Moneygall, Dunkerrin, County Offaly, Ireland. He died on February 19, 1991 at Maria Regina Hospital, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. Having studied at Tullamore Christian Brothers School and at St. Finian’s College, Mullingar, both in Ireland, Father Paddy came to Dalgan seminary in 1931 and was ordained priest in 1937. He was appointed to the Philippines where he was to remain until his death. In 1955, he became Prelate Ordinary of Ozamiz, being consecrated in the Dalgan Chapel, Navan, Ireland on September 25, 1955. He was translated to the archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro in 1971 where he laboured until his retirement in 1987. From then until his death he resided within the grounds of the Archdiocesan Seminary. Father Paddy is buried in the Cathedral beside his predecessor, Fr. James Hayes S.J.

 Bishops Patrick H. Cronin and Henry Byrne, December 1956