Father James Joseph McConville

As the end of the 19 th century drew near it is interesting to record the scholarly priestly life of two of the area's less well known sons Father James Joseph McConville and Father Peter McCusker.

Father James Joseph McConville was born in Ireland on 21 st August 1893, at Bleary in the Diocese of Dromore.   After primary schooling at Derrymacash he went to America, and it was at Marist Seminary in Washington that he completed his secondary education.   He entered the Society of Mary's novitiate in Washington at the age of 18.   From 1912 to 1917 he studied Philosophy and Theology in Washington and was ordained there on 22nd June 1917, after final vows on 8th December 1915.

The young Irishman began his ministry at Van Buren, teaching Latin and History, supervising yard and dormitory, organising athletics.   A year in Mexico at the College followed, then an appointment to Marist College Washington as Professor of Philosophy and Latin.   He was there from 1923 to 1929, and in the latter year he began his second novitiate.

Fifty years of ministry were still to be given to him, and they were spent in Oceania.   On 19 th June 1930 he sailed out of San Francisco to the North Solomons in the ‘Sonoma'.   Stationed in turn at Poporang , Motuna , Tsibai , he was at Tarlena in charge when war came to Bougainville.   On 29 th April 1943 he was evacuated to New Caledonia, where he spent two years before returning to Choiseul in 1946.

After several years at Hahela he was sent to Villa Maria in Sydney.   He had been named Vice Provincial of Oceania, and at Villa Maria he was to be Master of Novices for the Brothers and Superior of the community.   He was there from 1952 to 1958, he then returned to USA for a year.   Back on the Mission he was at Tunuru , then at Tearouki , then at Tsiroge , beginning there with Bishop Lemay in 1966.   In 1968 he went to Chabai and this was his last appointment.

He took up residence at the Regional House in Kieta in 1980.   In August 1981 he turned 88 and it was about this time that he became in need of medical investigation and treatment.   A bleeding mole on his back was diagnosed as cancerous, and from Arawa he was flown to the Mater Hospital in Sydney.   There he was found to have cancer of the blood and of the prostate gland; however, it was decided not to operate.   He was transferred to the St John of God Brothers at Richmond outside Sydney, where he died on 12 th July 1982.   May he rest in peace.

Father Peter McCusker

The following is from a letter dated 20 th February 1984 concerning Father Peter McCusker from the Salesians of Don Bosco in Cowley .Father Peter McCusker, after one year's novitiate made his first profession for the Salesians 12/9/25.He did his priestly duties in England and then Italy (doing 3 years' work in Ireland in this period).   He was ordained priest in Turin 8/7/34.After working for one year as Bursar in our juniorate in Shrigley (Nr Macclesfield) he went to our House in Capetown S. Africa.   He worked as bursar there from 1935 to 1947.He then returned to Shrigley where he was based for vocation and propaganda work.   He died there 8/1/63.

The other general details you will have yourself in the parish registers.

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May God bless you 

Fr L Castelvecchi SDB

Fr. Matt McConville is originally from our Parish of Tullylish and often attended the Clare Chapel for Mass. He is the son of Mona & Edward McConville of Bleary.After leaving school, Matt went to St. John's College in Waterford where he trained for the priesthood.He was ordained on 16 th June 1985 in St. Peters Church in Lurgan by Bishop F. G. Brooks. Also ordained on that day were Fr. Gregory McGivern and Fr. John Carr.Following his ordination Fr. Matt was Curate at the Cathedral Parish in Newry from 1985 – 1989.In 1990 he became a Curate in the Parishes of Magheralin and Lurgan. Then in 1991 he moved to be Curate of the Parish of St. Agidius just outside Munich .