Fr Stan Connolly was a dedicated servant to God
FR Stanislaus ‘Stan’ Connolly passed away recently having dedicated his life to the St Patrick’s Missionary Society.
Fr Stan’s funeral took place in St Patrick’s Chapel, Kiltegan, followed by his burial in the society cemetery. At the time of his death, he was being looked after in the care unit at St Patrick’s.
Fr Stan was born in Summerhill, County Meath, in 1930 and was ordained in 1956 while in his twenties.
He was first appointed to the Diocese of Calabar in Nigeria following his graduation. In the early 1960s, he was appointed Rector of the Society’s House of Philosophy in Cork.
After that he spent a number of years working in the USA after being appointed to promotion work. He remained in the States until he was elected as Vicar General of the Society at the 1972 Chapter. This resulted in a return to Kiltegan.
At the end of his term on the Central Leadership Team, he was appointed to Nigeria where he ministered at Amukoko for eight years. In the late 1980s he was appointed to Kenya where he ministered at Londiani.
He returned to Ireland in 2000.
After helping at St Mary’s Parish, Drogheda, he was appointed chaplain at St Francis’ Hospital, Mullingar. He retired to Kiltegan in 2011. Fr Stan wrote over 100 articles for Africa Magazine, writing first in 1959 and his last article was in the December 2017.
Fr Stan is predeceased by his brothers Fintan, Michael, Joe, Tom and Fr. Julian; and sadly missed by his sister-in-law Mary (Summerhill), by his nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, his relatives and friends and by his society family.