November 1

FR. THOMAS BRENNAN was born in 1920 at Kilkelly, County Mayo, Ireland.  He died at Navan Hospital on November 1, 2004. Educated at Kilkelly, Ballyfin and St. Mary’s College, Galway, both in Ireland, Father Tom came to Dalgan Seminary in 1940 and was ordained in 1946. All his overseas ministry – with the exception of a stint as guest-master in St. Columban’s, Baguio, where he was a genial and gracious host – was confined to Mindanao, Philippines. In 1990, ill-health prevented him from returning to the Philippines after his home vacation in Ireland. For the next nine years he undertook pastoral work in various parishes in the West of Ireland. He was a generous, friendly and tolerant man, affirming and encouraging all whom he met. Father Tom is buried at Dalgan Park.

Fr. Thomas Brennan with Muslim friends, Marawi, mid 50s

Fr. Thomas Brennan, Marawi, 1960s

November 3

FR. EUGENE McGEOUGH was born in 1939 at Bessbrook, County Armagh, Ireland. He died at Iona Road Presbytery, Dublin on November 3, 2001. Before coming to Dalgan Seminary in 1960 he had studied at Naas C.B.S. and Newbridge College. He studied accountancy for a few years and then entered Dalgan Seminary where he was ordained priest in 1966. Assigned to the Philippines, Father Eugene worked in Negros until 1989 when he returned to Ireland for family reasons. From then until his death, he worked briefly in the Diocese of Kerry and afterwards in Iona Road parish, Dublin, always at ease with people, always among them, always for them. Father Eugene is buried at Dalgan Park.

November 4

FR. JAMES D. CORRIGAN was born at Ballygawley, County Tyrone, Ireland in 1912. He died unexpectedly in Ozamis, Philippines, on November 4, 1981. Father Jim completed his secondary education at St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan, Ireland before coming to Dalgan Seminary in 1931. He was ordained priest there in 1937 and assigned to the Philippines. For the next forty years he worked in the island of Mindanao during which time he occupied various roles including those of Bursar and Vice-Pro-Director. Father Jim is buried at Lopez Jaena, Mindanao.

FR. ARTHUR PRICE was born in 1912 in Auckland, New Zealand. He died of pneumonia on November 4, 1996 at St. Columban’s, Singalong, Manila. He had received his secondary education at Marist Brothers’ Sacred Heart College in New Zealand before entering St. Columban’s, Essendon in 1929. He did theology in Dalgan, Galway and was ordained priest there on December 21, 1935. Appointed to the Philippines in 1936, he spent almost sixty years working in the Luzon area.  In 1944, Father Arthur was interned by Japanese troops in Los Baños Camp. He and his Columban confreres were liberated by U.S. parachutists and local guerrillas in February 1945. He did a stint [1948-50] on promotion work in Australia and New Zealand. In 1975, he became chaplain to Manila Doctors’ Hospital. Father Arthur is buried at Manila Memorial Park.

November 6

FR. MICHAEL ONGRADY was born at Trenton, New Jersey, USA in 1918. He died at Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Clarence, New York on November 6, 1972. Father Michael studied at Sts. Peter & Paul’s, Trenton, New Jersey before he came to St. Columban’s, Silver Creek in 1933. He did his Probation Year at St. Columban’s, Bristol [1938-39], his philosophy course at St. Columban’s, Silver Creek [1939-41], and his theology at St. Columban’s, Nebraska [1941-45]. He was ordained priest in 1944 and assigned to the Philippines where he worked until 1957. He returned to the U.S. due to indifferent health and spent the remainder of his life in pastoral work when his health permitted. Father Michael is buried at Trenton, New Jersey.