POPULAR Donegal Parish Priest Fr Pat McHugh celebrated 40 years in the priesthood on Monday.
Fr McHugh, who has been the PP of the Gartan and Termon parish since 2000, celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at St Columba’s Church, Termon on Monday evening and broadcast live on Facebook.
Picture: Fr Pat McHugh with Fr Paddy Dunne and Fr Michael McKeever.
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, a big celebration has been put on hold until those measures are eased.
On Sunday, Fr McHugh was presented with a cake to toast the 40th anniversary of his ordination by Fr Dunne (Kilmacrennan) and Fr McKeever (Glendowan).
Half of Fr McHugh’s 40 years in the priesthood have been served in the Gartan and Termon parish.
Fr Pat McHugh with his parents, Isabell and Jim McHugh, on the occasion of his ordination
In 1980, Fr McHugh was ordained by Bishop McFeely at St Peter’s Church, Milford.
He served as a curate in Glenties, where he also served as chaplain/catechist at St Columba’s Comprehensive School.
Fr McHugh spent two years studying at Boston College from 1983-85, when he worked in the Gate of Heaven Parish.
After coming back to Donegal, he worked as a curate in Glenvar and Oughterlin before being appointed as a curate to Dungloe in 1988.
In 1993, Fr McHugh became a curate in the Cathedral Parish, Letterkenny, where he also taught in Errigal College.
Fr Pat McHugh at his ordination in Milford in 1980 with Archdeacon Willie McMenamin, Dean Austin Laverty and Bishop Anthony McFeely
During his time in Letterkenny, Fr McHugh was appointed as the Director of the Raphoe Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. He held that post for 23 years and was popular with those who made the annual pilgrimage.
Fr McHugh also served as a curate in Convoy before being installed as Parish Priest to Gartan and Termon in September 2000.
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