Fr. Kearney

1864 ~ 1933

FATHER PATRICK JOSEPH KEARNEY was born in Birr South Offaly on 5th April 1864. It was fortunate for him that when taken as a child from the land when Catholics live their religion it was to Preston, one of the most Catholic parts of England, that he was taught by Jesuit Fathers. At the age of fifteen, in 1882, he turned his thoughts to the priesthood and went to Ushaw. For ten years he lived Ushaw life, always careful in his duties, always of a buoyant and cheery dispostion. Then on the 31st Juanuary, 1892 the day of days came to him. Bishop Wilkinson was ill at the time and was unable to perform the ceromony: so Father Kearney was ordained by Bishop Lacey in his domestic chapel at Middlesborough.

He was a curate for ten years. His first appointment was at St Patrick's, Felling, where he remained for two years. From Felling he was transferred on 10th March 1894 to St Joseph's, Sunderland; and when Father Thomas Smith left St Joseph's for St Mary's, Sunderland in the November of 1897, Father Kearney went with him.

His first charge was Chester-le-Street to which he went on 15th June 1902. There he built the present church and presbytery. From Chester-le-Street he was transferred to Whitley Bay, when St Edwards was separated as an independent parish from Our Lady and St Oswin's, Tynemouth. This was on 1st February, 1912. Here, again, Father Kearney built a fine church and presbytery, and it is evidence of his special concern for the little ones of his flock that even in his last days he was planning a school extension.

His last illness was long: yet the end came suddenly on Friday, 14th December, 1934 fortified by all rites of holy church, he died, and on the following after the Requiem in St Edward's., the body was taken to Ashburton for burial.

From the day of his ordination until his death, Father Kearney gave splendid service to the diocese. As an assistant and a parish priest he was zealous, reliable and painstaking. His friends were his fellow-priests: his recreation was sought in their company: his loyalty to his friends was firm and faithful: his admiration for them was consistent and enduring for many of them were men of outstanding ability.

He used to say that his contemporaries outran him in intellectual pursuits. But he himself was not without talents. He was given by God a remarkably good memory and a natural faculty of being able to crystallize a subject in his mind and to express its essential meaning or bearing in a few sentences of exact English or even in one phrase.

This endowment he used with great profit to his flock in his sermons and instructions. He preferred to instruct rather than exhort, believing that a full knowledge of Christ's teaching best created or stimulated the holy desire and firm resolution of following His precepts and obeying his commands. Never better was his gift displayed than when he stood before the congregation at the children's mass on Sundays. These instructions to the children were models. Carefully prepared, amply worded, frequently spoken, they carried the children and the whole congregation step by step through the Mass, alert attentive and devout. One felt that Father Kearney was saying his own Mass prayers aloud with the focus and emphasis that rose from his own full and virile piety.

For towards the Mass and Blessed Sacrament he had an intense devotion which used to call him to make regular and frequent visits to the church where he would often be discovered kneeling at the alter rails praying aloud. His rosary was seldom out of his hands when he went for a walk. His reading was serious and profitable. He interested himself chiefly in the varied life of the Church and its leaders and he was always found well informed on any matter of current ecclesiastical importance.

When his long illness separated him from his people and his public work for them, his personal attachment to his Master was intensified. From the outset he surrendered himself to the Divine Will. His last hours were impressive and edifying. He faced the end which he knew was impending with unchanging calmness and perfect understanding. He thanked God frequently in his last moments for the benefits of the priestly life, for the comfort of the Last Sacrament, and for calling him at last to Himself.

In te Domino speravi, non confundar in aeternum

Fr Kearney's Curates during his Spitual duties at St Edward's were as follows
Fr Brennan
Canon Cogan
Fr Wills
Fr Coutts
Fr Flynn
Fr Smith