A Time in History (January 9-15)

January 11

FR. THOMAS GERAGHTY was born in 1913 at Drumree, County Meath, Ireland. He died at Dalgan on January 11,1997. Having received his secondary education in St. Finian’s College, Mullingar [1927-32], Ireland Fr. Tom came to Dalgan in 1933 and was ordained priest there on December 21, 1939. Due to World War II, he was unable to take up his appointment to the Philippines and worked in the Salford diocese, England. In 1946 Fr. Tom was appointed to China and went to Hupeh, from where he was expelled in 1950 and reassigned to the Philippines. He worked in Negros for the next thirty years until he returned to Ireland [1980] and undertook a “dedicated and kindly ministry” in his home diocese of Meath. He is buried at Dalgan.

FR. WILLIAM G. HENNESSY was born at Providence, Rhode Island, USA in 1912. He died in Kinogitan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines on January 11, 2001 having been in failing health for many months. Having studied at Silver Creek and Omaha, Fr. Bill, as he was fondly called, was ordained priest at St. Columban’s Nebraska in December 1935 and then went to Rome for postgraduate studies in Canon Law. Assigned to the Philippines in 1939, he lived in the hills of Mindanao throughout the Japanese occupation and played a major part in the rebuilding of the Christian communities in Misamis after the country was liberated. Fr. Bill became the first Director of the newly constituted Region of the Philippines in 1952 and served in that position until 1959. He is buried at Kinogitan.

Frs. William Hennessey, Augustine O’Leary & Francis Chapman

Tombstone of Fr. William Hennessey in Kinogitan, Mindanao, Philippines

January 12

FR. JOHN CRAFTON was born in St. Peter’s parish, San Francisco, California, USA in 1913. He died at Jeanne Jugan Residence in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA on 12 January 1989. Fr. John was ordained priest in Providence, Rhode Island, USA in 1940 after studying at Silver Creek, Bristol and St. Columban’s, Nebraska. After parish work in St. Paul, he went to Mindanao, Philippines, in 1945. In 1948 he was assigned to the U.S. Region. After studies at Creighton University he worked on THE FAR EAST, in regional offices and parish apostolates until 1982. In later years he was auxiliary chaplain at the Home where he died. Fr. John is buried at East Providence, Rhode Island.

January 13

FR. JOHN O’BRIEN was born at Cahirconlish, County Limerick, Ireland in 1933. He died in a motorcycle accident in the Philippines on January 13, 1960. Fr. John studied at Sacred Heart College, Limerick before coming to Dalgan in 1951. He was ordained priest in 1957 and was assigned to the Philippines where he worked in the Zambales area until his untimely death. Fr. John is buried at Olongapo City, Philippines. He was re-interred in St. Columban’s Church, Olongapo City.

January 14

FR. EAMONN CULLEN was born in 1928 at Slieveboy, Castlepollard, County Westmeath. He died on January 14,1997 in Navan Hospital in Ireland having suffered a stroke. Having completed his secondary education [1943-48] in St. Finian’s College, Mullingar, Ireland Fr. Ned, as he was fondly called, entered Dalgan and was ordained priest there on December 21, 1954. Assigned to the Philippines, he ministered in the Manila area. He did a brief stint [1964-66] on promotion in the U.S. From 1966 he did parish and promotion work in Britain and Ireland. He was appointed to Chile in 1978 but poor health due to diabetes led to his retirement in 1995 to Dalgan. Fr. Ned is buried at Dalgan.

January 15

FR. WILLIAM A. ADAMS was born in 1922 at Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland. He died on January 15, 1991 at St. Columban’s, Manila, during a siesta. He was a nephew of Columban priest Paddy Kelly who was killed in Manila in 1945. Fr. Billy received his secondary education at St. Finian’s College, Mullingar, Ireland [1936-40], before entering Dalgan in 1940. He was ordained priest in December 1946. He was assigned to the Philippines in 1947 and continued working there for the ensuing 43 years in the Mindanao area. Fr. Billy is buried in Medina, Misamis Oriental.