Fr David Hughes SMA

13 January 2007

Fr David Hughes SMA

Fr David (Davey) Hughes SMA died peacefully at St Theresa’s Nursing Unit, Blackrock Road,Cork on the morning of Saturday, 13 January 2007. He had been unwell for some time and his condition deteriorated rapidly over the few days before his passing.

David was born on 7 April 1917 in Cabinteely, Co Dublin. He was one of three daughters and two sons of David and Marie Hughes. He received his early education with the Irish Sisters of Charity at Milltown and completed his secondary education with the Christian Brothers, Synge Street, Dublin. Having decided to become a missionary he became a permanent member of the Society of African Missions on 15 June 1940 and was ordained to the priesthood on 22 December 1940.

In January 1942 he began his active missionary apostolate with assignment to Egypt where he taught in St George’s College. David spent sixteen years there. In 1958 he was reassigned to minister in the Archdiocese of Kaduna, Nigeria. He continued to work ther until 1977. He then took up an appointment in the Diocese of Aberdeen in Scotland and worked there until 1988. A heart condition forced him to take on a less active ministry and in 1988 he took up chaplaincy work at Cleethorpes in the Diocese of Nottingham in England.

Advancing age forced his retirement in 1993 and he then spent some time in the Society’s House at Dromantine, Newry. In 1998 he came to SMA House, Wilton, Cork. Due to deteriorating health he moved to the St Theresa’s Nursing Unit, Blackrock Road in 2006.

David’s remains were removed from the SMA Community Chapel, Blackrock Road, Cork on Sunday, 14 January to St Joseph’s SMA Parish Church, Wilton. His funeral Mass was concelebrated on Monday, 15 January at 12 noon with burial afterwards in the adjoining SMA Community Cemetery. Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll SMA was the main celebrant and was assisted at the altar by SMA priests especially assiociated with David in his missionary apostolate – Fathers Liam O’Callaghan, Joe Maguire, Seamus Nohilly and Bernard Cotter.

David’s immediate family all predeceased him, including his sister, Sister Ignatius (Monica) of the Presentation Sisters in Manchester. He is mourned by numerous niecesa and nephews and other relatives.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.