In recent times I have emailed you about our missing Father Brendan Collins here in the Derry Diocese, but today I was wondering about another Brendan, this time in our neighbouring Diocese of Raphoe - Father Brendan Ward.
Father Brendan Ward was ordained a priest in June 2015. I remember him visiting our diocese before his ordination, as a deacon. With great fanfare, he was ordained a priest in June 2015 but he has vanished from the diocese and the contact details has been given as usual - "C/O Diocesan Office, Letterkenny"
So let me get this right. He was ordained a priest in June 2015, and then in the diocesan appointments of that same year he was, and I quote, "newly ordained, to go to Rome for further studies", and has never been back since. I checked the 2016 and 2017 clergy appointments on the Raphoe Diocese website, and he is nowhere to be mentioned.
What does this mean? You said that when priests vanish from a diocese and their contact details is "C/O Diocesan Office", we should be suspicious. Why did he have to go to Rome for further studies? Wasn't seven years in a seminary not enough study for him?
I have family and friends in the Raphoe diocese, and they have been wondering for ages, what has happened to Father Ward? Has he done a Brendan Collins and been put on "sabbatical" in Rome and never to return to the diocese ever again?
Now is the young man is sick, unwell, that is understandable, but to go to Rome for "further studies" and never to be heard of again, I smell a rat. Can you help?
Your help and insight would be most grateful, as he seems to have vanished and no one has noticed, until now.
Kind Regards
John King
BRENDAN WITH "PHYLIS" BOYCE |
PAT:
John, It is quite normal for a priest to be sent for further studies in Rome after ordination and that period of studies can last for three or four years considering the subject and the level of study - doctorate etc.
So I think it is too early, perhaps, to think that Brendan Ward is among the "disappeared".
Although in my experience it would more normal to put the college where the priest is studying in the diocesan directory eg: c/o The Irish College, Rome.
C/O Bishops House has been a traditional way for the church to describe the whereabouts of a priest who has a problem of some kind.
Maybe somebody from Raphoe will assure us that Brendan is alive, well, in good standing and finishing his studies in Rome.
So I think it is too early, perhaps, to think that Brendan Ward is among the "disappeared".
Although in my experience it would more normal to put the college where the priest is studying in the diocesan directory eg: c/o The Irish College, Rome.
C/O Bishops House has been a traditional way for the church to describe the whereabouts of a priest who has a problem of some kind.
Maybe somebody from Raphoe will assure us that Brendan is alive, well, in good standing and finishing his studies in Rome.
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KEITH O' BRIEN BURIAL PICTURES
ARCHBISHOP CUSHLEY BEHIND THE COFFIN
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HUNDREDS ATTENDED THE GRAVESIDE SERVICE
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KEITH'S HOUSEKEEPER HOLDING THE ROSE AND TIM FARMER THE FOUNDER OF KWIK FIT IN THE NAVY OVERCOAT BEHIND
Brendan is finishing studies in Canon Law in Rome. This information could probably more easily have been obtained by contacting the Raphoe diocesan office rather than relying on Pat who knows next to nothing about Raphoe.
ReplyDeleteYou might be surprised at what Pat knows about Raphoe.
DeleteWell, you didn’t know that Brendan Ward was studying in Rome so you can’t know that much, can you?
DeleteYou would be surprised at what Pat Buckley knows. He knows too much.
DeleteI’d be surprised if Pat could find the town of Raphoe. I think Pat assumes much more than he actually knows.
DeleteYou will see this priest in a group photograph taken Easter Monday in Rome at the ordination of Rev Anthony Briody and Rev Declan McGeehan.The photo is on the Irish catholic Bishops Conference website. Rev Anthony briody is a former Human Resource manager and brother of Fr Joe Briody who must have been tipped for Raphoe as he is very learned and holy. In the congregation is Fr Michael Cahill of Meath (Minister Simon Harris' nephew) but from Dublin. There's a lot of Dublin people who ended up in Meath. Fr Cahill is not officiating on the altar, but in the congregation.
ReplyDeleteThe church needs all the young priests it can get so why send them off for further studies. What a pity however that some of the men that were ordained are molded into the sort of priest that they want in maynooth rather than just allow them to be themselves. Pat do you know anything about a seminary that has opened in one of the dioceses in the arch diocese of Armagh in recent years. I only heard of it today when I came across an article online that appeared in the Irish examiner recently about how each diocese is operating with an age profile of priests that is getting older.
ReplyDeleteFr. Brendan Ward was sent to Rome by Bishop Boyce to study Canon Law in the September, just months after ordination. It is a three year course which will conclude this summer. There was dismay and shock at the time why a newly ordained priest was sent to study Canon Law after just finishing studies in Maynooth. Even Fr. Brendan himself must have got a shock. He is a most sincere man and rest assure, there is no other reason for his absence. He serves in the Diocese when he is home for holidays.
ReplyDeleteI had long since thought he had, to paraphrase KOB’s mourners, made some “wrong decisions” resulting in his disappearance.
DeleteBishop Boyce - abuse enabler - enough said
DeleteDear John
ReplyDeleteYou have very little else for doing.
Best Wishes,
Sr. Mary
And the point of posting funeral pictures is?
ReplyDeleteI Imagine there is still plenty mileage left in the KOB story.
DeleteJohn, I get the impression you're the kind of gent who runs to the window and peers out through the lace each and every time a van pulls up outside the neighbour's house.
ReplyDeleteyou're also typically the man who bangs on the window shouting at kids to get out of your garden, even though its full of weeds and in need of some TLC.
you also think giving a fiver into the collection is a small fortune.
where would we be without your kind!
There's one like King in every parish, unfortunately, usually retired men who do nothing but gossip and complain.
DeleteJohn King is a notorious pest in Derry diocese, a ridiculous figure.
DeleteAnother apparent sign of the Maynooth 'fail to formate' programme.
ReplyDeleteSurely we should expect 10years ministry between seminatry and further study?? Its is not unreasonable to get return on investment before deciding who really deserves the further investment in training?
Or maybe Ward will reappear now as Bishops Secretary of Dromore - he might just be another of Boyce's fanny bags - because he had a history of ordaining seminarians with short shelf life when they got into ministry.
Strange for a priest to be in Rome and never heard of. In my day they usually came home for Christmas etc and said Mass in home parish. As for the Funeral housekeeper has a rose. Token jesture to the role of women in the church. How does Quik Fit figure in all of this
ReplyDeleteThe former Kwik-Fit owner, Tom Farmer, is a prominent Catholic and benefactor in Edinburgh.
DeleteHe also opposed the repeal of Section 28 along with that born-again masturbater, Brian Souter.
KOB must have been ROTFL behind their backs.
Fr. Ward serves in different parishes when he is home on holidays. He was at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday.
DeleteGet your facts correct.
B. Ward’s age might suggest he would do postgrad studies sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteRev A. Briody on the website of the Irish College must have been in HR for many years.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Sir Tom Farmer was the only minor B-lister turning out for the shamed and disgraced former cardinal, KOB.
ReplyDeleteI imagine being KOB's former housekeeper must now rate at the at the very bottom in the self-esteem and prestige categories.
DeleteIs every male member of the Briody family going to enter a seminary? Didn't one of them join the FSSP seminary for a bit?
DeleteThe photos on the Irish College website say something about crediting John Briody if they are to be copied. Is it he? Was he in the national seminary before that?
DeleteThe ordaining Jesuit prelate of Raphoe looked great in dalmatic worn underneath chasuble. I’d expect nothing less.
DeletePat are you for real? He is studying canon law in Rome. You have little to be at publishing that tripe. John king my eloquent behind.
ReplyDeleteAny protracted absence is cause for concern and should be brought to +Pat’s attention.
DeleteWhy should it be Pat's concern? It is a matter surely for the missing person's family. If they know where he is then he is not "missing".
DeleteI too think that Brendan Ward should have been allowed to some years of pastoral before being sent to study.
ReplyDeleteAnd, with the shortage of priests, why have priest canon lawyers at all?
Train and employ lay people, male and female as canon lawyers and diocesan chancellors.
And look at the mess canon lawyers have made of the episcopate - McAreavey being a case in point.
DeleteBy that logic, many bishops have done terrible things, Pat Buckley is a bishop, therefore Pat Buckley does terrible things. That has the same logical consistency as the argument you just made.
DeleteAnd, Pat Buckley is not a canon lawyer, thank God.
DeleteLay Canon Lawyers might cost too much
DeleteWestminster has a woman as Vice Chancellor and very good she is too. But she needs to be paid a proper salary (she's worth her wait in gold). The Chancellor is a priest and so will get the lowly salary/stipend of a parish priest (which he also is). Lay people doing important jobs will mean a bigger cost for the diocesan curias which ultimately means everyone will have to put their money where their mouth is and put more money in the plate. Same would go for having married priests. You couldn't expect a family to live on the stipend of a single priest.
DeleteHe’s a bit of a looker, +Pat. Do you think this may have some bearing on the matter?
DeleteAbsolutely. Good looking younger priests get preferred by ma y bishops.
DeleteSurely with a levy of a few thousand €/£ from each of the dioceses in Ireland it would be possible to fund a small central team of lay Canon lawyers who would be at the disposal of all the dioceses. They could be based in the empty space in Maynooth, Clonliffe or one of the empty presbyteries, thereby keeping costs down.
DeleteA bigger scandal is the use of priests as lecturers and school teachers.
And why does Maynooth, with 24 sems in residence, need two deans? When there were 650 sems in residence there were just three deans, and bigger seminaries such as Allen Hall get by with just one director of formation.
Pounds n Pence count in CoE as well as in RC Church sometimes not for the better
DeleteWere you a young good looking priest and did it make you a favour with the bishop as a result.
DeleteSourpuss McAleese is a poor advert for lay Canon Lawyers.
DeleteJohn King is a typical aul Ginny Anne busybody/mischief maker - an aul screwball with nothing better to do with himself all day except stir sh**. Nobody takes him seriously in Derry and people give him a bye ball. Blogs like this though is right up His alley! I wonder which decent priest next will fall foul of the gimlet eye of this nasty old goat?
ReplyDeleteAs a Catholic he is entitled to ask questions.
DeleteHe’s not a logician either.
Delete9.55: Why don't you, Pat, stop encouraging such unnecessary intrusiin into other people's lives? Leave Fr. Ward to his studies. It's quite simply - none of your business. Have you nothing worthwhile to do this Monday? Pat, get a real pastoral job....
Delete9.45: Pat, it's really none of your business what the Bishop decided about Fr. Ward doing further studies. That's entirely a matter for him alone! Stop attrubuting ulterior motives that don't apply or exist. What a concern for you to have! Obviously no real, binding pastoral commitments....
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clarifying that this blog is about clerics being sent to study canon law rather than disappearing like BC.
ReplyDeleteHello Pat
ReplyDeleteHas Declan McGeehan been ordained? I heard he presented a lot of issues. Did Mgr Ciaran O'Carroll overlook these issues just like with Conor Gannon of Dublin?
Thank you
As far as I can ascertain there was nothing proven with regards issues.
DeleteIssue-ritus is a chronic condition for many of these he-virgins.
DeleteHows the roman source doing? He still around?
DeleteThe picture of Dublin seminarian Conor Gannon in angel wings is proven. What is happening with him Pat?
DeleteHot looking guy is Brendan Ward. He'll break a lot of hearts!
ReplyDeleteBoth male and female.
DeleteHe certainly wouldn't "break my heart" but I don't tend to chase overgrown schoolboys.
DeleteHe's not that young looking - the wrong side of 40 at least. He was a woodwork teacher before he got the (first) call.
DeleteWoodwork teacher to three years in Rome doing the JCD is an agreeable leap.
DeleteI agree with + Pat. Why, oh why, are we sending off young priests for further studies like canon law to become office bound chancellors and vicar generals, when those jobs could and should be done by qualified lay people, leaving the priests to concentrate on what they tell us they have been ordained for - pastoral and sacramental ministry ? It's just an excuse to keep power in the hands of the clergy, rather than seeing clergy for what they should be, namely pastoral and sacramental ministers. There is nothing to say that the grace of ordination immediately bestows the power of authority and administration. A young man like Ward should be shovelling shit in the vineyard of the Lord, not enjoying the delights of a Roman lifestyle and popping out to the Gregorian for a few studies in the morning and then coming back to a nice lunch, a glass or two of wine, a siesta, a walk in the park, and few hours of study in his room, and then out for a pizza and beer with convivial friends. What a lovely life. I remember it well ! But that's not what he has been ordained for.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for Tom Farmer - yes, a may be an old bigot, but at least he is a loyal one, and turned up for KOB's funeral. I think Cushley, Nichols and even Francis, have done themselves a great disservice in the matter of KOB, which the generality of Catholics are appalled at. Catholics are a forgiving lot, and they don't like to see someone like KOB being treated so nastily and coldly, no matter what he has done. Cushley and Nichols might need some friends like Farmer when they are on their way down. It is only a fine line between being on the top of the pile and lording it over everybody, and finding yourself slipping down rapidly because somebody who sounds credible and looks like the real thing says something about you from the past. Or even makes it up. It could happen ! So be nice to people who have fallen, Cushley and Nichols, because you could find yourself sharing a berth with them someday !
Excellent comment.
DeleteBrendan Ward should be working in a big parish like Letterkenny with a special in the youth.
Ah, but I think Brendan Ward might be thinking that he's set for a wider stage ! Good looking, young, bright-ish - he could have his sights set on something like the Pontificia Ecclesiastica Academia and the Holy See's Diplomatic Service. Just like Cushley ! He might not come back to his diocese at all. The people will have paid of his education and training for 6 or 7 years, plus his post-grad stuff in the Eternal City, and then get nothing back for it. Maybe that's his plan ?
ReplyDeleteIt's sad really, filling a young priest's head with canon law and legalism.
DeleteI was once told that Canon Law was applied theology. When I was being taught Canon Law in Rome the priest who taught it always linked it back to experiences in the parish. As a priest, Canon Law has helped me in being pastoral in situations within parish life.
DeleteIndeed Bishop Pat @ 13.25, what a waste of a young Priest. (The real Sr. Mary).
DeleteLeave the lad alone! Exposing him to the poisonous nonsense from the aul dolls that chin wag on here! That nasty old wagon King has nothing better to do with himself! Feck off John back to the Baptists or whatever other sect you’ve now shacked up with. Have they not enough scandal to keep you up in gossip you auld handbag?
ReplyDeleteTotal egg on face time for that gossipy bollox John King (or should he be renamed Juan Kerr?)
ReplyDeletePat it's a pity you don't know Canon Law better; you'd realise that you are excommunicated from the church by virtue of your own actions. Put that in yer pipe and smoke Bishop.
ReplyDeleteIn fact canon law was my best subject in the seminary.
DeleteI am only bound by God's Law and canon law means nothing to me.
I do not accept that anyone can put you out of God's family except Him.
He and I get on very well indeed.
He may have a different perspective on the relationship given that you seem to lack any sense of charity towards those you deem as being opposed to you.
DeleteHe has never mentioned it to my in our daily conversations.
DeleteIn fact, He deliberately took me out of corruption and Phariseeism.
If the God you believe in is telling you that the lack of kindness and simple human decency towards others that you often display here is fine with Him, then I would much rather embrace atheism.
DeleteSo glad that your right and everyone else is wrong!
DeleteI wonder when we get to the gates of heaven if Canon Law is ever mentioned? Will it be a case of those who followed Canon Law line up on the left and those who didn’t follow Canon Law line up on the right. (The Real Sr. Mary).
DeleteYes, The Real Sr. Mary - remember the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats?
DeletePat do you know the real Sr. Mary? Should she be better put to work with crochet or needlework. She sounds a right one.
DeleteThe parable of the sheep and goats was an expression of how deeply we can reach out in love to others. That’s not something anyone would ever accuse this blog of doing.
DeleteWe all know where most of the goats are sheltering :-)
Delete17:12
DeleteYes I do know the real Sr. Mary. I have met her a few time.
How would I describe her?
Larger than life.
A bit too fond of the altar wine.
She sounds a right bitch
Delete@ 16.11
Delete"So glad that you're right.."
Glad you confirmed she is fond of the altar wine. We won’t take what she says seriously in future.
DeleteMatthew 18:15-17 - how do you explain that, Pat, in view of your claim “I do not accept that anyone can put you out of God's family except Him“?
DeleteThe Lord there tells His disciples there to put out of the community those who will not listen to reason.
As regards Sr Mary’s fondness for the Altar wine - “they” say the same about you!
God's Family is bigger than any church, community or denomination.
DeleteWhat they "bind on earth" is "bound in Heaven" is a what Christ said...
DeleteYes, Pat, it is indeed bigger - but you can still be shown the door if you persist in obstinate and sinful behaviour. The Lord Himself says it.
DeleteI see that the Vatican has arrested one of its diplomats, who had been in the nunciature in Washington, for the usual crime.
ReplyDeleteDownloading child porn.
DeletePat, is there anything you don’t know about? Do you have an intelligence agency? I’ve got to hand it to you, you and your sources are up to speed.
DeleteThere is plenty I do not know.
DeleteBut there is a lot I know.
I get much of my info from diocesan and religious order priests.
And by the way - I have an Oratory Society priest based in Raphoe and visit him there regularly.
Haha John King. Feeling embarrassed, much?
ReplyDeleteJohn King has nothing to be embarrassed about.
DeleteHe is entitled to be a Church and clergy watcher.
Either he or you could have contacted the diocesan office in Letterkenny if there had been any genuine interest in ascertaining the truth, it instead this has been used as an excuse for insinuation and attempted character assassination.
DeleteThere is no insinuation about Brendan Ward.
DeleteHe is a young, intelligent Raphoe priest, who is studying in Rome.
John King and others just wondered why he disappeared after ordination.
John King should be embarrassed for:
Deletea) thinking he'd got a scoop for Bishop Pat;
b) for bracketing this priest with one of the Missing in action;
c) not checking his facts; and
d) being a gossip and not minding his own business.
I suggest that after this fiasco Juan does not try to get a job as a reporter on the Derry Journal though he might fit in well in the Londonderry Sentinel.
John King, also known as Norris Cole. Hows Rita keeping?
DeleteFr Ward didn't disappear. His further studies in Rome were announced in the 2015 Raphoe clerical changes.
DeleteNot sure if they have broadband in Londonderry, but Sherlock King should have a squint at this, an example of the various media outlets which covered this:
http://www.highlandradio.com/2015/07/20/bishop-boyce-announces-clerical-changes-in-raphoe-diocese-2/
Or is he Percy Sugden, 18:21?
DeletePercy Sugden's faithful budgie was named Randy.
DeletePat, believe it or not I worked in the dole office in Hackney, London in the 1980s. We had a claimant called Randy Bishop. The staff loved calling out "please would Randy Bishop come to interview room 2".
DeleteWe also had a P J Kelly (presumably Patrick Joseph). When the first computers came in there was one shared by four member of staff. It was considered the best of craic to change the man's name to K Y Jelly and letters went out in that name. The managers couldn't identify the culprit.
Sister Mary...............is well known to many of the priests of Armagh Diocese. She is in a longstanding relationship with an Armagh priest. They once fathered a child which was adopted by a prominent Armagh Catholic family. The priest's brother, and Cahal "The Old Nun Daly" contributed to a trust fund for the boy's upkeep and education. He does not know who his parents are.
ReplyDelete‘Old Nun Daly’ Pat did you ever consider stand up. Perfect characterisation of the red hatted weasel
DeleteI'm told Sr. Mary came up with the term as he reminded her of a skeleton old nun in her convent who pursed her lips like Cahal did.
DeleteWhy didn't John King contact the Raphoe Diocesan Office? You are a disgrace raising suspicions by plastering this holy priests face up on a blog for no reasons.
DeleteYou are no way trustworthy. Go after the crowd in Maynooth who are doing real damage.
Is she English?
ReplyDeleteDoes she even exist? More to the point...
DeleteIs this same Boyce criticised on BBC 5 live last week in the UK?
ReplyDeleteI don’t understand why Pat can’t have the good grace to apologize for publishing today’s baseless post. Is Pat incapable of admitting he was wrong?
ReplyDeleteThe real issue raised by today's Blog is the utter waste of a young priest when a lay man or woman could be trained as a canon lawyer.
DeleteNo apology necessary for highlighting the waste of scare priestly resources.
Totally agree with you Pat. Boyce is a waste of space and wasting a young Priest in Ottawa.
DeleteApparently being Pat Buckley means never having to say you’re sorry
DeleteWhen I get things wrong I always apologise.
DeleteGiven that you’re reinventing your motives to justify your blog, the evidence would seem to say you don’t apologize when you’re wrong
DeleteGlad to see you’ve mastered episcopal arrogance.
ReplyDeleteIt's a mark of sacramental validity:-)
DeleteIt wasn’t a compliment
DeleteSad. I was hoping it was xxx
DeleteHere I am BABY! signed, sealed, delivered. I'm YOURS!
ReplyDeleteOh look, the slimey bastardo old wh**e Carta has woken up after a long day of drunken slumber in the troll cave! Lol
Delete23:05, you've got the wrong 'wh**e'.
DeleteDon't know how the idiot managed to post with my username, since Blogger isn't supposed to permit such.😆
It isn't your user name, it's mine.
DeleteFunny how everyone just assumed it was you being your normal, sweet lovable self!
there is room for both of us BABY. just like Ireland is flooded with Mary's and John's.
DeleteHow are ye all doing this evening, girls?
ReplyDeleteI'm a lady and I'm gonna be a star
DeleteUnder no circumstances could you be described as a lady. Even if you tried to be, you'd just be like a vicious, acid-tongued, bitter drag queen. Rather the impression you give anyway.
DeleteLook in the mirror Magna 23.08: horrible ugliness: a**ehole of a demented, lonely old, drunken hag ..
DeleteIt is with Great Sadness Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh announce the very Sudden death of Canon Michael Bagan a former Diocesan Vocations and National Vocations Director for Scotland also on the staff of Drygrange with the late KOB so sad for the Archdiocese. Going for a PM result will likely be like the last on inconclusive.
ReplyDeleteIt is even more sad that Father B, S, F and X are still in the Archdiocese.
Even THRE of the Curia (Archbishops Council) all signed the letter against Pope Francis and yet all got promotion.
Pope Francis should cut the number of Diocese in Scotland and have a clear out to give Scotland Leadership.
Two weeks ago in Was Edinburgh
Last Week Glasgow and two Archbishops should resign in disgrace.
The Cardinals was mature consenting Men (and some it seems are still as stated on here before) as he said in the other cases in Sunday Mail and should not get big Requiem Masses.
This Wednesday it is Galloway where it took THREE Bishops to act and all three should resign in disgrace.
It was a disgrace what they did to Cardinal O'Brien yet in Ireland the Bishop got full honours well this week Wednesday/Thursday will show none of Gallows Bishop's should get full honours even less than KOB.
Previous blog said +Cushley and +Nicols Career Men were see as cold as Fish.
and certainly not top Funeral Directors appointed if that was them caring the coffin to the grave looked so unprofessional.
Yes, one of the pall bearers had his top shirt button open. Mourners notice such things.
DeleteHas anyone else noticed how small Phyllis's hands look compared with Brendan's in that photo? A Trump moment?
ReplyDeletePat this blog really is depressing. You and commenters seem keen to see the fault in priests.It's 3.55am and I'm just back from praying prayers after death with a family where the husband/father had suddenly died. I'm not telling this to say how great a priest I am, far from it, I know my faults and know I can and should be a better priest. But having had things said about me on this blog that have both been untrue and nasty I realise that the nastiness of this blog should not upset me as a person, because the important stuff is not what a bunch of malcontents type from their keyboards, it is being a priest with people at all points in their life (and after). Tomorrow I will go about other pastoral work and will continue to pray for that family. Perhaps you could let go of your anger and hurt and get on with your own life rather than sticking your oar into other people's lives and allowing others to defame people. Let go of your hatred and be liberated.
ReplyDeleteOf course a handsome young man will bring out en masse the drooling ageing lonely gays who populate this website.
ReplyDeletePhilip Boyce looks like an old Nun like Cackle D.
ReplyDelete