POPULAR Parish Priest Fr Pat McHugh has announced that he is stepping down from his role on health grounds.
Fr McHugh has been the PP of the Gartan and Termon parish since 2000. He is 42 years in the priesthood.
Fr McHugh told parishioners the news on Tuesday.
Speaking at Mass in St. Columba’s Church, Fr McHugh said he had asked Bishop Alan McGuckian to be relieved of his duties as PP on health grounds.
“I’m not finished as a priest by any manner or means, I hope to continue some form of ministry, but I am stepping down as Parish Priest,” Fr McHugh said.
“I don’t know who is coming after me, that is a matter between that person and the Bishop.”
Fr McHugh said that the new PP for Gartan and Termon will be formally announced on Monday.
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.
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.
