Fr. Michael McCullagh, a Vincentian priest from Dungloe, has published his first book ‘With Due Respect’.
In the book, Michael reflects on his long years of experience as spiritual director which has given him a broad understanding of the struggles and pitfalls that can be part of any minister’s life.
The launch took place at a packed function hall in the Church Bar & Restaurant in Dublin on Saturday last.
Fr. Michael is a priest of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) and will celebrate his golden jubilee in June 2024 and despite his travels across the globe his passion and love for his native Dungloe has never waned. His ministries have included teaching, prison ministry and spiritual direction in Britain, USA and Ethiopia and with the seminarians in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
Fr. Michael is presently based at Knock Shrine with his Vincentian colleague, Fr. Aidan Galvin, CM providing a support ministry to priests. However, he never misses a chance to return home to Donegal and this was reflected in the large turnout of family and friends from his native county at the event.
Fr. Michael with his Ballyshannon cousins, Marie, Aisling and Paul McLoone
Fr. Michael McCullagh and Mary Kennedy at the launch
His book was launched by Mary Kennedy, the well known Irish television personality who has been an acquaintance of Michael for many years and who paid a glowing tribute to him at the event.
Mary said: ‘Fr. Michael is a kind man, a deeply spiritual Vincentian priest, a man of compassion and sensitivity. These qualities are evident from the very first page of his beautifully reflective and highly relevant book, With Due Respect: Taking a Second Look at God, at Self, at Others.
‘The underlying premise of this work is that life is beautiful and meaningful. Fr. Michael explores the depths of human emotions, both positive and negative, and he doesn’t shirk from recounting his own moments of loneliness, doubt and despair.
‘We have lived through a strange and troubling time, enduring the uncertainty, anxiety and sadness of a global pandemic. Now is the moment to recognise the hurt we have suffered and to welcome a new dawn.
‘Fr. Michael leads by example as he invites us to examine our lives, to be gentle with ourselves and to recognise our gifts and the love and compassion that we show others. We could not ask for a better guide on that path than this honest, sensitive, caring person. I’m very glad to know Fr. Michael and I thank him for this soul-searching examination of life and living and for his conclusion that life is, indeed beautiful’.
In his address, at the event Fr. Michael spoke about his 49 years as a priest
‘I have had many privileged opportunities to serve and to collaborate with others, in education and in pastoral ministry in parishes in Ireland and the UK. I was greatly honoured to be appointed as the first parish priest with the Travelling Community in the diocese of Dublin in 1980. I was also privileged to work in prison ministry in Ireland and the US with those recovering from addiction. Another extremely rewarding experience was my work as a spiritual director for the Daughters of Charity in Britain and Ethiopia and with those in priestly and lay formation. During all those years I had the benefit of spiritual directors, counselling guides, mentors and co-workers who continually helped to critique and guide my life and ministry’.
In addition, Fr McCullagh is a founder member of the Vincentian Lay Missionary (VLM), a volunteer sending organisation working with disadvantaged adults and children in Ethiopia, Ghana Kenya and Burkina Faso. All of their projects strive to serve the poorest most marginalised people in their communities. In 2013 he famously organised a fundraising vintage motorbike tour of Ireland which finished in Ionad Naomh Padraig in Gweedore. As well as sending hundreds of volunteers from Ireland VLM has raised hundreds of thousands of euros for those most in need.
The book, With Due Respect: Taking a Second Look at God, at Self, at Others, can be purchased at the book shop at Knock Shrine and can be ordered by email from bookshop@knockshrine.ie or by ringing their phone line 094 9375030. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to charity.
