Catholic parish priest for Newark, Southwell, and Ollerton, Father Michael O'Donoghue, celebrates Emerald Jubilee — marking 55 years of priesthood
A Catholic priest has marked a major 55-year milestone in his religious service.
Reverend Canon Michael Joseph O'Donoghue has served the Newark community for nearly two decades, and has now celebrated his Emerald Jubilee — 55 years since his ordination — with the area’s school pupils and his congregations.
“I find the people of Newark very amenable,” Father Michael said.
“I enjoy being parish priest here — there’s a lovely town centre and we have a multi-cultural parish.
“As well as English, Irish, and Italian, the congregation has people from Eastern Europe, Africa, and India.”
Father Michael was ordained a priest on June 14, 1970 — by Bishop Myles McKeown, Bishop of Bunbury, Australia — following six years of study in theology, philosophy, scripture, and more at the missionary college All Hallows, in Dublin.
Born in 1946 and raised in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland, he was the youngest of three children and has ‘always harboured a deep sense of Celtic spirituality’.
Father Michael’s friend and fellow Kerryman, Canon Tim O’Sullivan, has described the priest’s early years as being ‘happy and carefree…in a home which exuded happiness and spirituality’.
It was while in school at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, that he realised his path to priesthood, when asked by the college president what he would like to be.
After his ordination, the proud Kerryman took a one-way flight to East Midlands airport and has served the communities of the Diocese of Nottingham ever since.
His first appointment was to the parish of St Joseph and St Edith, in Oakham, Rutland, where he spent four years, before moving on to St Alban’s, Derby, for a further six years.
Then followed 12 years as director of youth services for the diocese, based in Crich, before a move to the parish of St Thomas More, Leicester, and then St Peter and St Paul, Lincoln.
Father Michael took up his post in Newark, at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, in 2008 — and during his time here has also absorbed the parishes of Our Lady of Victories, Southwell, and St Joseph’s, Ollerton.
This then became a new and enlarged parish, the Parish of St Francis of Assisi, Sherwood.
Young people and pastoral care have always been front and centre of Father Michael’s work as a priest, who for the Catholic schools in the area is “a supportive and encouraging pastor” who has overseen a period of renewal for them.
Celebrations for the priest’s Emerald Jubilee included services with children at St Joseph’s R C School, Ollerton, and Holy Trinity Catholic Academy, Newark, as well as a service of thanksgiving and afternoon tea in Newark, and services at Southwell and Ollerton.
