30
Mar, 2011
Canon Thomas Nugent R.I.P.

The death has occurred in Ireland of Canon Thomas Nugent. As a young priest, Fr Nugent served in our Diocese at St Mary’s, Grangetown and St Peter’s, Scarborough 1954-1956. He then returned to his native Diocese of Waterford and Lismore. He died in Lismore on 28th February 2011.

May he rest in peace.

Canon Thomas Nugent and ‘Temporary Mission’

The recent death of Canon Nugent in Ireland brings back memories of an era of abundant vocations. For a good part of the 20th century, priests ordained in Ireland for their home dioceses spent time elsewhere as they awaited a vacancy at home. They usually came to the UK, sometimes to the USA and further afield. This period of two to four years away was called ‘Temporary Mission’. Not all returned, especially from America. Two priests opted to stay on in Middlesbrough.

Canon Nugent was one of the many who came to our Diocese, mainly from the Dioceses of Waterford and Lismore, and Cashel and Emily. He retained happy memories of his time in Grangetown and at St Peter’s, Scarborough, with Mgr Lynn and Fr Bernard Lovelady. He will be well remembered at St Margaret Clitherow’s, Haxby, where he often stayed with his friend and classmate, Canon Mortell. He was in poor health for several years, but continued to say a public Mass to the end. He was called to his reward on 28th February 2011 and is buried in Lismore where he had been Parish Priest.

His death set me thinking of the other priests who came to our Diocese on loan. We benefited greatly from their presence over the years. Among them, I recall Fr Victor Power, St Francis, Middlesbrough, who came with Thomas Nugent in 1954. Fr Ray Liddane, Sacred Heart, Middlesbrough and Fr Michael J Ryan, St Pius X, came the following year. Nineteen fifty six saw the arrival of Fr Sean Nugent, St Joseph’s, Middlesbrough. Fr Pat O’Byrne, Thornaby, 1957. In the early 50s, Fr Phil Hickey was in South Bank. Going back to the 40s, I would mention Fr Michael Wall, Sacred Heart, Hull, Fr Michael O’Doherty, Sacred Heart, Hull and Thornaby, Fr Chris Keating, St Charles and St Joseph’s, Middlesbrough. Also, Fr John Morrissey who was hoping to go to Australia during the war but only got as far as St Vincent’s, Hull! Fr Jim Mulcahy, Cathedral, 1947.

Coming to the 60s and 70s, we had the Curran brothers, Fr Jim at the Cathedral and Fr Michael, Holy Name, Hull. Also later, Fr Bernard Moloney, Sacred Heart, Hull, Fr John McGrath, St Pius and St Wilfrid’s, York, Fr Dan Woods, Corpus Christi, Fr Ailbe O’Bric, St Pius X.

The last to come were Frs Noel Kirwan and Gerry Coleman. Both served at Sacred Heart, Middlesbrough, with Canon Madden in the 80s.

This list is by no means exhaustive. It is also reasonable to presume that other priests came to the Diocese on loan at an earlier stage.

Older readers will remember Canon Nugent with affection and many of those zealous young men for their sterling work in the parishes in which they ministered.

We pray for those who have died and extend our prayerful good wishes and thanks to those now retired or still on active ministry.

Canon Patrick Harney

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