22 April 2006
Fr John Breheny SMA
Fr John Breheny SMA passed away in the morning of 22 April 2006 at St Theresa’s Nursing Unit, SMA House, Blackrock Road, Cork. He had been seriously ill for some months.
John was born on 10 March 1932 and was a native of Keash, Ballymote, Co Sligo. He was one of the four children of the late Patrick and Mary Breheny. He received primary education at Keash National School and secondary at the Sacred Heart College, Ballinafad, Co Mayo which was run by the SMA. He entered the Society’s Spiritual Year programme at Cloughballymore, Kilcolgan, Co Galway in 1954 and took temporary membership of SMA in 1955. He became a permanent member on 14 June 1960. He was ordained to the priesthood at St Colman’s Cathedral, Newry, Co Down on 21 December 1960.
He was assigned to Liberia and worked in the Vicariate of Monrovia from 1961 until 1975. In 1976 he was appointed as assistant pastor at Sacred Heart SMA Parish, Stopsley, Luton where he ministered for the last thirty years. He was diagnosed with serious illness in late 2005. His health rapidly deteriorated and he was forced to come to Cork for treatment early in 2006. He died peacefully on Saturday.
Mass was concelebrated at SMA House, Blackrock Road, Cork on Monday, 24 April. The Mass was followed by removal to St Kevin’s Church, Keash, Co Sligo. The Funeral Mass was concelebrated on Tuesday, 25 April and was followed by interment in the family grave at Knockbrack cemetery.
Fr John was brother of the late Fr Kevin Breheny SPS. He is survived and mourned by his sisters, Sister Assumpta (Mercy) and Imelda Killoran, by his brother-in-law, Jim, and by his nieces, nephew, relatives and friends. A great crowd of sympathisers gathered for the funeral service including a substantial number of parishioners from Sacred Heart Parish, Stopsley, Luton where Fr John was highly esteemed.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dÃlis. Requiescat in pace.
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