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The Roman Catholic Parish of St Joseph’s in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, UK

Address
63 Conway Road
Colwyn Bay
Conwy
LL29 7LG

Fr Francis Gormley OMI

Fr Francis Gormley OMI

Born on 25 September 1942, at Garvahul- lion, Drumquin, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Frank was the eldest of a family of one girl and five boys. The family moved to Harold’s Cross, Dublin when he was very young. He remembered his early years as a time of working hard, helping his father with daily milk rounds and later bread rounds, and looking after the family shop.

When he entered the Oblate novitiate in September 1966, Frank had already worked for some years as a barman in Morrissey’s of Cork Street and completed his secondary education with the Jesuits at Apostolic School, Mungret College, Co. Limerick, where he also studied philosophy. So, he was able to proceed directly from the novitiate to studies in theology at the Obate Scholasticate, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, where he made his profession as an Oblate of Mary Immaculate in 1970. He was or- dained priest at St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on 13 June 1971.

Frank devoted his life to pastoral work in parishes in Britain and Ireland. He was ut- terly committed to his work, prepared carefully, kept himself up to date through daily reading and study. Prayer was central to his life as a human being and priest. He was aware of his own vulnerability to life’s pressures and losses, but he understood with St Paul, that through God’s power at work in him, his vulnerability, his wounds, could also become his strength as a sensitive and committed pastor.

Fellow Oblates who worked with Frank describe him as ‘a hard worker, a conscientious pastor who was gentle and perceptive with people and always totally attentive to the person in real need’; ‘he was a details person who, for example, worked meticulously to get to know each person whose Funeral Mass he would be celebrating, in order to do so as well as possible’.

All who knew him will know the care that Frank took in his pastoral work in parishes and schools. A deeply serious man with regard to ministry, he was also courteous, sociable, good company, and incredibly well informed about English soccer. He had been a vigourous footballer in his early days, described by some as ‘hard as nails’! He was also an enthusiastic supporter of Manchester United.

As his health began to fail, he accepted gracefully and calmly the limitations of failing memory. Those beautiful gifts of courtesy, sensitivity, gratitude and simplicity that marked his life came to the fore in illness and retirement. It was always a pleasure to sit and chat with him over a cup of tea, and help him recall and relive the past as his short-term memory grew weak.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

 

Fr Francis Gormley OMI

1942 – 2020

Appointments

1971 – ‘73     1973 – ‘82    1982 – ‘85    1985 – ‘86   1986 – ‘87    1987 – ‘94   1994 – ‘97   1997 – ‘98   1998 – 2010  2010 – ‘11    2011 – ‘13   2013 – ‘19   2019 – ‘20

House of Retreat, Dublin – missions Quex Rd, Kilburn – parish ministry Eastwood, Kent – Pastor
Belmont House, Dublin

San Antonio, Texas – sabbatical House of Retreat, Dublin – missions St Michael’s Parish, Dublin – parish Wester Hailes, Scotland – parish
St Teresa’s Parish, Norris Green Berkeley, CA, USA – sabbatical
St Joseph’s Parish, Colwyn Bay Anglesey Centre of Mission
OMI Community, Inchicore – retired

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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