Fr Gerard Mongan who was transferred to the Parish of the Three Patrons in Derry earlier this week has praised the people of his former parish in Dungiven.
The curate who served in the north Derry parish for the last three years paid an emotional tribute to the parishioners as he said his final Mass on Sunday.
The County Tyrone native has been transferred to the Parish of the Three Patrons, Derry - residing in Carnhill.
Fr Mongan said during the last three years he has met ‘so many lovely people’ who have ‘inspired’ him.
“Before I ever came to this historical parish of Dungiven with its beautiful surroundings, I would have driven through the town like anyone else going from Derry to Belfast. And every time I saw those mountains, the first line of our Psalm always came to mind: ‘I lift up my eyes to the mountains from where shall come my help?’ Now I’ll know that when I pass this way again I am a changed person for having met and known so many of you who have certainly been my help over the past three years,” he said.
“I look back on the past three years of my time here being very grateful for having met so many lovely people, young and old who have inspired me by their faith and sheer goodness.”
The much-loved priest continued: “I was privileged to have shared in so many of your lives, being with you beside your loved one's bedside either in hospital or at home; with you in your grief when you lost a dear loved one. I can still see many of their faces before me, the people who came here so faithfully and again I am so grateful for having met them. I'll always remember the happier times spent with you at baptisms, first communions, confirmations and weddings! Every visit to the schools was a joy – to see the happy faces of the children and the dedication of our teachers. I have so many heart-warming memories that will always stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Fr Mongan said he was leaving the parish with ‘a very heavy heart’.
“I do not want to go and I’m still shocked because I thought I had escaped the changes and was ‘safe’ for another while! All I can say is that I leave this beautiful and historical place and all of you with a very heavy heart, but very proud to have been a priest of Dungiven parish like the countless priests who have served here before me.”
Paying tribute to all those who have shown him kindness during his time in the parish, Fr Mongan added: “Thank you for everything, especially for your kindness, your companionship, friendship and loyalty and allowing me the honour of being your priest. I apologise for having offended or hurt anyone. I take with me the line from Luke’s Gospel today, about Jesus saying to the disciples: ‘to pray continuously and never lose heart’. Be assured that you will be fondly remembered in my prayers. I will sorely miss you! I will never ever forget you.”
Fr Joseph Varghese will join the parish as the new curate. He has served in the Derry parishes of Glendermott, St Eugene's Cathedral and Long Tower.
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