Michael Donnelly (priest)
Encyclopedia
Michael Thomas Donnelly (born June 4, 1927 — died 1982) was a Roman Catholic missionary
priest from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was born to Teresa Fitzpatrick Donnelly and Michael Thomas Donnelly. His younger brother, Hugh Patrick Donnelly, survives and resides in Newark, Delaware
, USA.
He joined the Montfort Missionaries, also known as The Comfort of Mary, after completing his academic and theological studies at Montfort College
in Romsey, Hampshire, UK. From the late 1950s through the early 1970s, Father Michael worked as a Missionary priest in Pirimiti, Southern Region, Zomba District
, Malawi
, formerly the Nyasaland Protectorate, on the continent of Africa
. While in Malawi
, Father Michael was successful in his efforts to build a church and school for the mission. Indeed, it was during this time in his clergical career that he made the most meaningful contributions to humanity and the people of Malawi
, whom he greatly loved. He was fluent in Chichewa.
When on sabbatical, Father Michael would take residence at St. Mary Gate of Heaven Parish, a ministry of the Montfort Missionaries in Ozone Park, Queens, NY. Additionally, he would also reside with his younger brother, Hugh, and his family in Newark, Delaware
. While in Delaware
, Father Donnelly would occasionally say mass at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Newark. His affable, compassionate and intelligent manner helped him establish many friendships among missionary and diocesan priests and nuns and parishioners in both locations.
In the early 1970s, Father Michael was a monk in Mexico. He became fluent in Spanish.
During his life, Father Michael was consistently attracted to and interested in apparitions of The Blessed Mother and Catholic Mysticism. Saint Pio of Pietrelcina was of great interest to him.
As Father Michael was a fervent believer in Traditionalist Catholicism, the combination of his interests in mysticism and traditionalist beliefs may have attracted him to the Palmarian Movement. After his work in Mexico, Father Michael travelled to Spain to further investigate alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin at El Palmar de Troya
. He was later consecrated a bishop on January 1, 1976 at El Palmar de Troya
, Spain
by Ngo Dinh Thuc Pierre Martin.
He did become part of the Palmarian movement
for a few months after his consecration. Subsequently, he left, repudiating his involvement with the Palmarians and was reconciled to Pope John Paul II
, even though officially laicized.
Father Michael died of rheumatic heart disease in 1982, in a small village outside of Seville
, Spain
. He had begun work on forming a small church that was located inside a house in that village.
He is entombed in a niche
in El Cementerio de San Fernando in Seville
, Spain
.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
priest from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was born to Teresa Fitzpatrick Donnelly and Michael Thomas Donnelly. His younger brother, Hugh Patrick Donnelly, survives and resides in Newark, Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
, USA.
He joined the Montfort Missionaries, also known as The Comfort of Mary, after completing his academic and theological studies at Montfort College
Montfort College
-History:The Brothers of St. Gabriel came to Chiang Mai and established Montfort Primary School in 1932 along Charoen Prathet Road on a plot of land provided by Bishop Peross from Luang Anusarn Suntorn who gave his financial support without interest. The land was located along the Ping River...
in Romsey, Hampshire, UK. From the late 1950s through the early 1970s, Father Michael worked as a Missionary priest in Pirimiti, Southern Region, Zomba District
Zomba District
Zomba District is one of twelve districts in the Southern Region of Malawi, surrounded by the Districts of Chiradzulu, Blantyre, Mulanje, Phalombe, Machinga, Balaka and the Republic of Mozambique to the east...
, Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, formerly the Nyasaland Protectorate, on the continent of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. While in Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, Father Michael was successful in his efforts to build a church and school for the mission. Indeed, it was during this time in his clergical career that he made the most meaningful contributions to humanity and the people of Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, whom he greatly loved. He was fluent in Chichewa.
When on sabbatical, Father Michael would take residence at St. Mary Gate of Heaven Parish, a ministry of the Montfort Missionaries in Ozone Park, Queens, NY. Additionally, he would also reside with his younger brother, Hugh, and his family in Newark, Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
. While in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, Father Donnelly would occasionally say mass at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Newark. His affable, compassionate and intelligent manner helped him establish many friendships among missionary and diocesan priests and nuns and parishioners in both locations.
In the early 1970s, Father Michael was a monk in Mexico. He became fluent in Spanish.
During his life, Father Michael was consistently attracted to and interested in apparitions of The Blessed Mother and Catholic Mysticism. Saint Pio of Pietrelcina was of great interest to him.
As Father Michael was a fervent believer in Traditionalist Catholicism, the combination of his interests in mysticism and traditionalist beliefs may have attracted him to the Palmarian Movement. After his work in Mexico, Father Michael travelled to Spain to further investigate alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin at El Palmar de Troya
El Palmar de Troya
El Palmar de Troya is a village dependent on the near town of Utrera in Andalusia in south-western Spain with a population of 2,423. It is particularly known for the cathedral of the Palmarian Catholic Church, a schismatic Catholic sect founded by Clemente Domínguez y Gómez in the 1970s as a result...
. He was later consecrated a bishop on January 1, 1976 at El Palmar de Troya
El Palmar de Troya
El Palmar de Troya is a village dependent on the near town of Utrera in Andalusia in south-western Spain with a population of 2,423. It is particularly known for the cathedral of the Palmarian Catholic Church, a schismatic Catholic sect founded by Clemente Domínguez y Gómez in the 1970s as a result...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
by Ngo Dinh Thuc Pierre Martin.
He did become part of the Palmarian movement
Palmarian Catholic Church
The Christian Palmarian Church of the Carmelites of the Holy Face , commonly called the Palmarian Catholic Church , is a schismatic Catholic church with its own pope, Gregory XVIII.-Origins:...
for a few months after his consecration. Subsequently, he left, repudiating his involvement with the Palmarians and was reconciled to Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
, even though officially laicized.
Father Michael died of rheumatic heart disease in 1982, in a small village outside of Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He had begun work on forming a small church that was located inside a house in that village.
He is entombed in a niche
Niche (architecture)
A niche in classical architecture is an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. Nero's Domus Aurea was the first semi-private dwelling that possessed rooms that were given richly varied floor plans, shaped with niches and exedras;...
in El Cementerio de San Fernando in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.