November 20

FR. ABRAHAM SHACKLETON was born at Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland in 1908. He died suddenly at Dalgan on November 20, 1978. Fr. Abe attended various Dublin schools until his father, an engineer, moved to Belfast, Ireland. He received practically all his secondary education at St. Malachy’s College, Belfast. He began his studies for priesthood at St. Senan’s College, Cahiracon, Ireland in 1926.  After his ordination in 1932 at Dalgan he did post-graduate studies in Rome and was awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law [1936]. He spent the next ten years [1936-46] in Hanyang, China. He was appointed to the U.S. [1947] and was engaged in many apostolates there for the next twenty years – promotion, office work, spiritual direction and student formation. In 1967, he went to St. Columban’s, Solihull, Britain where he assisted in setting up the office. He left for the Philippines in 1969 and worked in the diocese of Ozamis until ill health forced him to return to Ireland in 1976.  Fr. Abe is buried at Dalgan.

Frs. Joseph McDonnell and Abraham Shackleton

November 21

FR. MICHAEL DUFFY was born at Johnstown, County Meath, Ireland on November 28 1931. He followed his brother Fergus into the Columbans and was ordained December 21, 1956. The Superior General sent him to Antigonish, Nova Scotia to study cooperatives and to Denver for journalism, while waiting for a visa to Burma.  Since the visa was refused, Fr. Michael did promotion in Westminster and San Francisco, California and taught in Milton and Silver Creek, USA. Assigned to the Philippines in 1966, he worked in San Narciso, San Antonio, San Felipe, Poonbato and Botolan. His perfectionism and gentle, punning sense of humor helped as District Superior in Zambales in 1980, in the formation programme in Cebu City and Quezon City and while struggling for Justice and Peace in Tondo, Manila. Fr. Michael was appointed to Britain in 1989 where he did mission education, was lay mission coordinator and vice-director.  In 2003, he was transferred to Ireland. Even in retirement he enriched the community with Lectio Divina and bridge. Fr. Michael died in Our Lady’s Infirmary, Navan, Ireland on November 21, 2016. He is buried in Dalgan

FR. JAMES MULROY was from Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland where he was born in 1923. He died in Manila on November 21, 1965.  Fr. Jim did his secondary studies at St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen, Ireland before entering Dalgan in 1941. He was ordained priest there in 1947 and appointed to the Philippines.  At the time of his death he was chaplain at Far Eastern University, Manila. He had a bad heart condition for some years. Fr. Jim was buried at Iligan City, where he had worked after his arrival in the Philippines. Later he was re-interred in Cagayan de Oro.

The remains of Frs. James Mulroy and Ernest Brennan inside a Philippine Air Force plane bound for Iligan City

November 22

FR. ERNEST P. BRENNAN was born at Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland in 1930. He died at Manila, Philippines, on November 22, 1965.  Having studied at Belvedere College, Dublin, Ireland Fr. Ernie went to Dalgan in 1949 and was ordained priest there in 1955. He was assigned to the Philippines and worked in Cagayan de Oro City.  His death took place in a Manila hospital where he was convalescing from a minor operation. His death coincided with that of Fr. James Mulroy. Since both had worked in Iligan City it was decided they should be buried there. Through the good offices of the Vice-Mayor of Manila, the Philippine Government provided an Air Force plane to take the bodies of the two priests to Iligan City. They have both been re-interred in Cagayan de Oro since then.

Fr. Ernest Brennan with parishioners

November 23

FR. QUENTIN KALICK was born at Buffalo, New York, USA in 1918. He died on November 23, 2004 at Manila Doctors’ Hospital where he was a regular patient in the months prior to his death. His formation for priesthood took place at Bristol, Silver Creek and Omaha, Nebraska, USA before being ordained at Providence, Rhode Island in 1942. Unable to go on overseas mission due to the war, Fr. Quentin did pastoral work in San Diego and Redlands, California, USA. In 1945 he was a member of the first post-war group to go to the Philippines where he worked until his retirement to Singalong in 1991. Despite indifferent health throughout much of his life Fr. Quentin will be remembered for his wit and bright companionship. He is buried at Manila.