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Departure of Fr. Cathal Deery.
Fr. Cathal Deery came to Donagh Parish on the 1st of September in 2002 replacing Fr. Billy Hughes as Curate. However Fr. Cathal was given a double bill - he was asked to act as Curate for both Donagh and Truagh. This was the first time in the history of the Clogher Diocese that a priest was covering two parishes. Since then there have been others but it was a very difficult task and must have, on occasions, posed serious problems for Fr. Cathal. There was a joke passed that Monaghan Co. Co. were going to build a new lay-by out at Steele’s, so that Fr. Cathal could pull in and change his jersey from red and black to Black and White or vice versa depending on which way he was heading. On Thursday, September 3rd Fr. Cathal heads off on a journey to New Zealand and will take up duties as Parish Priest of two parishes in the South of the country. A priest from there, Fr. Brendan Ward, will come to Donagh to carry on the work of curate to Truagh and Donagh.
He will reside in Fr. Cathal’s house in Emyvale and will drive Fr. Cathal’s car. Fr. Cathal will reside in Fr. Brendan’s house and drive his car in New Zealand. I wonder does Fr. Brendan know how Fr. Cathal drives?
Then in January Fr. Cathal will leave New Zealand and head for the USA. There he hopes to participate in a Renewal Course until the end of April. It will be a time, as he says himself, when he can stand back from his life and consider what he is doing, how he is doing it, where he wants to go and how he is going to get there in future. Then in a year’s time he hopes to come back to Clogher and get a position as a PP in some of the parishes. It will hardly be Donagh or Truagh and there is a question as to whether Donagh will ever have a curate based in Emyvale again.
Since coming to Donagh and Truagh Fr. Cathal has endeared himself to the people. Surely some may have taken exception to his direct approach but most would agree that he ‘got things done’ and did not like dragging out the decision-making process. His openness and honesty could not be questioned.
The many, who came in close contact with him at special times in their lives, know his kindness, thoughtfulness, prayerfulness, commitment, compassion and attentiveness and for that they are eternally grateful. He was with us for Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, other celebratory occasions, sickness and, sadly, deaths.
The Homily at his Masses were always well delivered, showing careful preparation. They were interesting and always had a clear message. They were laced with meaningful analogies and expressed with understandable and plain language and had humour to lift the minds and hearts of his listeners, both young and old. He mixed with families very easily and enjoyed taking part in the family festivities and families loved having him with them. He was also one of the few among the clergy, who realised what the loss of acute services in Monaghan hospital would mean and he was willing to let his opinions be known. He will be missed from North Monaghan.
We would like to wish Fr. Cathal God’s Blessing for the future and may he have health and happiness where ever he is. We thank him for his ministry to the people of Donagh and Truagh and for his work over the past seven years.
We hope he keeps in touch and if he wants to see what Fr. Brendan and Fr. Hubert are at then he can read the weekly bulletin on this website.
