February 1

 FR. PAUL R. SMITH was born at St. Paul, Minnesota, USA in 1934. He died at the Veterans’ Hospital in Leavenworth, Kansas, on February 1, 1983. Father Paul was educated at Cretin High, St. Paul; St. Columban’s College, Milton [1952-54]; and St. Columban’s Major Seminary, Milton [1954-61]. He was ordained priest in 1960, appointed to the Philippines in 1961 and remained there until he joined the US Army Chaplains’ Corps in 1968. On his retirement from the army in 1971 he was to return to the Philippines but while doing a refresher course in the language he became ill. He returned to the U.S. and worked in the diocese of Tucson [1977-82].  Father Paul was buried in the National Cemetery, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota with full military honours.

 February 2

FR. PATRICK O’DONOVAN, popularly known as Father Pato, was born in Cork City in 1927. He died at Dalgan Park on February 2, 2009. Having completed his secondary education at Mount Melleray he came to Dalgan seminary in 1946 where he was ordained in 1952. Assigned to the Philippines in 1953, Father Pato spent the next 41 years in Pangasinan, apart from a 6-year period [1978-’84] when he served as District Superior of Luzon, residing at Singalong, Manila. In 1994, Father Pato was assigned to Ireland for treatment of a skin condition. Even then, his total commitment to priesthood was evident when he continued his engagement in pastoral work in the Cork Diocese. With a deep spirituality and blessed by common sense and a sense of humour, Father Pato attracted many who sought advice and assistance. His adoring family would vouch for that. His many friends in the Philippines and Ireland will miss his gentle presence. Father Pato is buried at Dalgan.

 February 5

 FR. OLIVER WHYTE was born in Barnaderg, Tuam, Ireland in 1921. He died on February 5, 2009 at Dalgan Park. Having completed his secondary education at St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam, he came to Dalgan seminary in 1940 and was ordained there in 1946. He was appointed to Shanghai to study Korean but by 1948 he was working in Huzhou, China. But there was yet another twist in Father Oliver’s story! Due to Church persecution in China in the early 1950s, Father Oliver was assigned to Mindanao, Philippines, where he spent over 30 years. Appointed to Ireland in 1983, he served as College Bursar in Dalgan, followed by many years of Mission Promotion and Vocation work. Being a skilled raconteur, Father Oliver would have excelled in those roles! He retired in 1996 but continued to travel and entertain!  Father Oliver is buried at Dalgan park.