Fr Seán J. McGrath
(15 June 1930 - 27 April 2018)
Seán Joseph McGrath was born on 15 June
1930 at Killen, Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Educated at
Aughamullan Public Elementary School and St Patrick's College, Armagh, he
entered St Columban's, Dalgan Park, County Meath, Ireland, in September 1948.
He was ordained priest on 21 December 1954.
Main Street, Killen [Wikipedia]
Father Seán's first twenty years were spent in pastoral work in Mindanao, Philippines. He worked mainly in Ozamiz City and in Iligan City. In the latter he established the new parish of Corpsu Christi in Rosario Heights, Tubod, and built a huge, modern church there. In his years in Iligan he displayed his extraordinary creativity. He was always open to trying new ways of in volving his parishioners and had a particular gift for raising funds for the many projects of the parish.
Corpus Christ Church, Iligan City [Parish FB]
After twenty years in the Philippines there followed ten years of promotion work in the District of Britain. Fr McGrath was in charge of the London house and in 1979 became Superior of the District. He was always a cheerful extrovert who made friends easily, remembered names and was a gifted fundraiser. All these qualities helped make him very effective in promoting mission.
When the Columbans opened a new English-speaking mission to Belize in 1986 Father Seán was one of the first to volunteer. His companions elected him as spokesperson of the mission unit. Conditions were difficult but he was happy to be back in a new environment, working out of St Ignatius Church in Belize City. He organised raffles in order to raise funds for the parish projects including the building of a new rectory. The mission to Belize ended in 1996 when the Columbans lacked manpower to continue there and Father Seán was assigned to the USA.
In the United States Fr McGrath's gifts were employed very successfully on behalf of projects in the Columban Region of the Philippines. He was delighted to be back working with Filipinos and he encouraged them to help with the education of our new Filipinos seminarians and with other projects. He worked happily in the USA until his health began to deteriorate and he returned to Ireland and to the nursing home at St Columban's, Dalgan Park, in 2014.
Always full of energy, good humour and creativity, Father Seán will be remembered among Columbans and his numerous friends in so many different countries.
May he rest in peace.
St Ignatius Church, Belize City [Parish FB]
When the Columbans opened a new English-speaking mission to Belize in 1986 Father Seán was one of the first to volunteer. His companions elected him as spokesperson of the mission unit. Conditions were difficult but he was happy to be back in a new environment, working out of St Ignatius Church in Belize City. He organised raffles in order to raise funds for the parish projects including the building of a new rectory. The mission to Belize ended in 1996 when the Columbans lacked manpower to continue there and Father Seán was assigned to the USA.
National Flag of Belize [Wikipedia]
In the United States Fr McGrath's gifts were employed very successfully on behalf of projects in the Columban Region of the Philippines. He was delighted to be back working with Filipinos and he encouraged them to help with the education of our new Filipinos seminarians and with other projects. He worked happily in the USA until his health began to deteriorate and he returned to Ireland and to the nursing home at St Columban's, Dalgan Park, in 2014.
Always full of energy, good humour and creativity, Father Seán will be remembered among Columbans and his numerous friends in so many different countries.
May he rest in peace.
St Columban's Cemetery, Dalgan Park
[Obituary by Fr Cyril Lovett]
Logo of the Tyrone Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
Fr McGrath was an outstanding Gaelic footballer in his youth and played midfield for the Tyrone minors when they won the All-Ireland Championship in 1947 and 1948. The following tribute appears on the Tyrone GAA Facebook:
‘Anocht is Uaigneach Tír Eoghain … Tonight Tyrone is Lonely’
The death of Fr Sean McGrath draws the curtain on the exceptional life journey of an exceptional Tyrone man. Fr Sean was in so many ways a person apart, an All-Ireland Minor double-winner for us in 1947 and 1948, (that group of young men whose significance within the Tyrone GAA story can never be underestimated), and then with the Columban Fathers a man who improved the lot of humankind not just in Ireland but in Belize, Britain, The Philippines and the USA. Most of us aspire to great things in life: Fr Sean lived them and delivered them.
The deepest sympathy of Gaelic Tyrone goes to his wide family connection – personal, Columban and Clonoe O’Rahillys.
‘Luímse le Dia agus luífidh Dia liom: Éireoidh mé le Dia agus éireoidh Dia liom. I lie with God and God will lie with me: I will rise with God and God will rise with me.’
Logo of Clonoe O'Rahillys GAA Club
Clonoe O'Rahillys was the local Gaelic football club of which Father Seán was a member. The club carries this tribute from a relative on its Facebook:
Father Seán loved
Irish music and during his long, lingering illness another Columban, Fr Bernard
Mulkerins, often sang for him in his room in the Columban nursing home. This was Father Seán's favourite song.
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