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Father Vincent
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Father Vincent

Biography

I was born in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal on 10-03-1936 and had a very happy family environment. I was educated by the Sisters of Mercy until eight years of age and then by the De La Salle Brothers until end of second level education. My father died suddenly before I was 18 years, so I had to go into our family business until my brother took it over from me when I was nearly 23 years. 

I then joined the Franciscans and did my undergraduate studies for a B.A. at University College, Galway. After Solemn (Final) Profession as a Franciscan, I continued my studies in Rome where I got my qualifications to teach theology. I was ordained priest in Rome on 05-03-1966 and spent time on the Irish Franciscan Mission to El Salvador where I came to know Oscar Romero, who was the Vicar General of our Diocese of San Miguel and Administrator of our Cathedral. 

Back to Ireland
After my return to Ireland I continued teaching in Ireland and became Diocesan Advisor for Post-Primary Schools in the Archdiocese of Dublin from 1975 to 1981, with responsibility for providing In-Service education for about 1500 Post-Primary teachers of Religious and Moral Education in 163 schools and lecturing in Religious Education in U.C.D. and Maynooth Universities. 

I later joined the staff of the Franciscan Study Centre in the University of Kent at Canterbury, England, as Pastoral Director for students preparing for Ordination to the diaconate and priesthood, also lecturing in Pastoral Theology and Catechetics. 

Later I joined a team-ministry in a large parish in West London (West-Ealing and Hanwell) with parishioners from about sixty three different countries and responsibility for the ecumenical chapliancy of the huge 800 plus-bed Ealing Hospital of the University of London. 

From London I was assigned as Parish Priest of our Parish of St. Anthony and Chaplain to the Catholic Anglophone Community of Brussels area. I have been very blessed with such a wide-ranging and fulfilling pastoral experience.

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