Bishop Pádraig O’Donoghue RIP

Bishop Pádraig O’Donoghue was born in County Cork in 1934 and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Westminster in 1967. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Westminster in 1993 and was appointed Bishop of Lancaster in 2001, serving in that role until his retirement in 2009. Following retirement he continued his ministry as a priest in Cork, and died at the age of 86 last Sunday.

We learned at his funeral Mass of his recent admiration for Fr Doyle. He had read To Raise the Fallen and apparently “waxed lyrical” about it, being particularly inspired by Fr Doyle’s remarkable spirit of self-sacrifice and generosity.  Bishop O’Donoghue was just one of many people over the last century who have come to know, and hence to love, Fr Doyle’s spirit and example. 

As we pray for Bishop O’Donoghue at his passing into eternal life, we also trust that he will join in the prayers of so many us who desire to see Fr Doyle’s Cause formally opened and to see him eventually canonised as a saint.   

The relevant section of the homily dealing with Bishop O’Donoghue’s admiration for Fr Doyle starts at 55 minutes and 37 seconds into the video, and also includes Fr Doyle’s prayer for priests.