Rev. Fr. John Heneghan

Co. Mayo Map

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ireland_map_County_Mayo_Embossed.png

St. Jarlath's College, Co. Galway

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tuam_St._Jarlath%27s_College_2009_09_14.jpg

St. Patrick's College, Maynooth 2009

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maynooth_St._Patrick%27s_College_2009_05_03.jpg

Navan, Co. Meath circa 1900 -1939

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Navan_(An_Uaimh),_Co._Meath,_Ireland_(16265239630).jpg

Map of Philippines Achim1999

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Philippines_4_8_12.svg

Louisburgh, Co Mayo

Columban Missionary / Editor / Author

This Mayo priest of the Colomban Fathers was an interesting man as an author who ministered with empathy to all whom he encountered.

John Heneghan was born in Louisburgh, Co. Mayo during 1881 (Michael Feeney) [i]

Education

John Heneghan attended the local Louisburg National School. He received his second level education at St. Jarlath’s College in Tuam, Co. Galway. He proceeded to St. Patrick’s College in Maynooth. [ii]

Curate

John Heneghan was posted as a curate to Annaghadown in the Tuam diocese. [iii]

Ordination

He was ordained in Maynooth College during 1909 by the Archbishop of Dublin William Walsh. [iv]

1916

He heard confessions of Tuam volunteers on their way to Athenry to join the Easter Rising in 1916. [v]

Dean

Fr. Heneghan was offered a post as dean in St. Columban’s. Dalgan Park, in Shrule, Co. Mayo (The present seminary was purchased during 1927: now at Navan, Co. Meath) [vi]

Head of Council

He was elected as the head of Superior Generals Council from 1919 to 1924. [vii]

Publications

He acted as editor of the Superior Generals Council society’s publication The Far East (his prose was described as beautifully written These were posthumously published. [viii]

Fr. Heneghan penned the following books: White Martyrdom 1946 (St. Columban’s, Milton. Massachusetts), The Secret Scriptures of the Poor 1951 also Fr. Damien Exemplar of Noble Deeds 1954 (both by Clonmore Reynolds Ltd.) [ix]

Philippines

Fr. Heneghan was sent to the missions in the Philippines during 1931 while he was aged forty – nine years. He ministered to the local people until his untimely demise. [x]

Tragedy

Along with five Columban colleagues he was murdered by the government forces during the U. S.-Japanese battle for Manila. [xi]

Honour

Fr. John Heneghan was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom by the U. S. Government (highest civilian decoration). Citation reads: ‘He secretly gave aid & substance, material & spiritual, to the American & Allied internees.’ [xii]

Tributes

An article entitled Bangor to Bobbio written by the Columban Society featured Fr. Heneghan & his companions, it included photographs. [xiii]

A stone bench of granite reference (WM0248588) is situated within the Mayo Peace Park at Castlebar also a plaque of remembrance in his memory. (Martin Coyle 28^th October 2016) [xiv]

On the 100^th Anniversary of Armistice Day the annual Mayo Remembrance mass was held in St. Patrick’s Church Louisburgh. Fr. Heneghan is featured in an article by Edwin Mc Greal, The Mayo News 13^th November 2018. [xv]

A monument was erected in front of the Malate Church in Fr. Heneghan’s & his fellow priests’ memory: his nephew Monsignor John Heneghan attended the ceremony on his family’s behalf. [xvi]

A history of the Dalgan Columban Seminary may be viewed at this link: https://columbans.ie/dalgan/