A Time in History (March 20-26)

March 21

mckeating

FR. COLM McKEATING was born in St. Patrick’s Parish, Belfast, Ireland on 9 July 1940. After ordination on December 21, 1962 he studied science in Queen’s, Belfast in preparation for teaching in Whitby, England. But the Society closed the school there and sent him to the Philippines in 1967.  For the next ten years he enjoyed parish work in Zambales and taught Science in Columban College, Olongapo. Back in Ireland he acted as Justice and Peace Officer, as a member of the Vocation’s team, and had four years in student formation. At the request of the Philippine Region he went to Rome in 1984 to study theology specializing on that of John Henry Newman. He joined the Columban Initial Formation Programme in Manila in 1990 and was a clear, incisive teacher in the Maryhill School of Theology. After serving as Director of the Philippine Region from 1999 to 2005 he returned to formation, giving retreats, and publishing several fine books. In 2013 he retired to Dalgan for cancer treatment and still hoping to write one more book but he died there on March 21, 2015.  Father Colm is buried in Dalgan Park.

 

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Fr. Colm Mckeating with friends during his Golden Jubilee celebration in 2012

 

connel 

FR. CORNELIUS O’CONNELL was born in 1910 at Cahirlane, Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, Ireland.  He died of a heart attack on March 21, 1995 at Dalgan, Navan.  He belonged to a family of twenty children. Having completed his secondary education at St. Michael’s College, Listowel, Ireland, Father Con entered Dalgan Seminary in September 1929 and was ordained priest there in 1935. He was sent to China where he studied the language in Shanghai, followed by an assignment to Nancheng. Forced by the Communists to leave China in 1951, he went to the Philippines and worked here for almost forty years, mainly in Zambales.  From 1991 Father Con resided in Dalgan and he is buried at Dalgan Park.

 

 

March 23

divcer

 

 

 

FR. JOSEPH F. DIVER was born in 1910 at Forest Glen, New York, USA. He died on March 23, 1994 at Dalgan Park, Navan, Ireland. His family moved to Ireland and resided at Carrigans, County Donegal. He received his secondary education at St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, and went to Dalgan Seminary in 1931 where he was ordained priest in 1938. Appointed to Korea in 1939, conditions forced him to stay in the U.S. where he became an Army chaplain, but was discharged a year later due to ill health. He was assigned to parish and mission promotion work around the U.S. until 1945 when he went to the Philippines. From 1949 to 1951, he was in the Irish Region and was chaplain to the Benedictine Convent, Drumfries, Scotland. Appointed to the U.S. Region, Father Joe worked in Los Angeles, Bristol and Chicago. Returning to the Irish Region in 1967, he continued in pastoral ministry in Ireland and Britain until his retirement to Dalgan in 1983.  Father Joe is buried at Dalgan Park.

 

 

March 26

lavery 

FR. SEAN J. LAVERY was born in Lurgan, County Armagh, Irealnd in 1930. He died in Dalgan on March 26, 1999. Having studied at St. Colman’s, Newry and at St. Columban’s, Navan, Father Sean was ordained priest on December 21, 1954. After post-graduate studies in music in the USA, he was assigned to the Philippines where he used his musical talents especially in the Diocese of Ozamis.  Assigned to Ireland in 1969, he took charge of music and liturgy in Dalgan Seminary until he was appointed to Maynooth College where he continued the same work. He obtained a Doctorate in Sacred Music from the Pontifical Institute of Music, Rome. In 1987, Father Sean was assigned to Jamaica until ill-health forced him to retire to Dalgan early in 1999, where he is buried.

 

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Father Sean in front of the Ozamiz Pipe Organ

 

 orchestra

The Ozamiz Cathedral Dance Troup and the Glee Club during an Easter Extravaganza

under the Direction of Fr. Sean Lavery

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