Tributes paid to 'a wonderful Mayo chaplain' who has died
WARM tributes are being paid today to Fr. John McCormack, SNA, Breaffy, Castlebar, who died last night.
His death took place at St. Theresa’s Nursing Unit, SMA House, Blackrock Road, Cork.
In a short announcement on its social media platforms, the Tuam Archdiocese said: “In your prayers please remember Fr. John McCormack, a deeply loved and kindly pastor who served in Breaffy until his recent illness. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
A statement by St. Gerald's College, Castlebar, said: “It is with great sadness that our school community learned of the death of Fr. John McCormack.
“A wonderful chaplain, he introduced the Peer 4 Peer Programme to our school and the parish of Castlebar.
“He was hugely supportive of the participation of the youth in the church; especially in Breaffy.
"He was a good friend of our staff and his presence in our school was always encouraging, reassuring and prayerful. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”
Breaffy GAA Club said it was deeply saddened to learn of the sad passing of Fr. John.
“Father John was a wonderful supporter of Breaffy GAA Club and the wider community in Breaffy.
"He will be sadly missed by us all. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his congregation at this sad time,” a spokesperson said.
A tribute on the Mountbellew-Moylough Parish Facebook page stated: “It is with sadness we learned Fr. John McCormack SMA, Curate in Breaffy, passed away last night. Fr. John served as curate in Moylough from 2002 to 2007.
“We keep Fr John’s family and friends, his parishioners past and present and the Society of African Missions in our prayers. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
Fr. John McCormack celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his Ordination on December 15 last.
He was ordained in Newry Cathedral as a priest for the Society of African Misisons (SMA) on December 17, 1969.
A native of Roundfort, the first missionary posting for Fr. John after his ordination was to Liberia in West Africa.
He spent 15 years there where he built up the Christian community through his spiritual and pastoral work, building churches, schools and houses.
He then took up missionary work in the Philippines. He spent 14 years there and his main task was to run a large parish in the dioceses of Manilla.
He also set up and ran a seminary where Philippine priests were educated and trained for missionary work back in Africa.
After almost 30 years on the missions, Fr. John returned to Ireland and to his native Mayo.
He administered in Irishtown for three years and Moylough for five years before coming to the parish of Castlebar in 2007, where he served as the Breaffy area priest.
History was made in the Castlebar parish when Fr. John become the first priest to celebrate his Golden Jubilee anniversary while serving as a priest in the parish.
Deepest sympathy is extended to his bereaved family on their loss.