FrFintanhadagentle, quietsenseofhumour
Fr Fintan Anthony Byrne (1936-2019) An Appreciation by St Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan.
FINTAN Anthony Byrne was born on February 18, 1936, to Patrick Joseph Byrne and his wife Margaret (née Fallon) of the Square, Athlone, Co Westmeath.
He was one of a family of four girls – all of whom became members of the Congregation of St Louis – and two boys. Fintan began his primary education at St Peter’s Convent School and completed it at Dean Kelly Memorial School.
He continued at the Marist Brothers, before transferring to Summerhill College, Sligo, from 1949 to 1954.
He joined St Patrick’s Missionary Society in September 1954. He went to St Patrick’s College, Douglas, Cork, in September 1955 and attended University College, Cork. He graduated with a BA degree in June 1958. He returned to Kiltegan for a four-year course in theology.
He was ordained in St. Mary’s Church, Killamoat on Easter Sunday, April 22, 1962 with 18 classmates. The ordaining prelate was Bishop Patrick Cleary SSC, Bishop of Nancheng, China.
After ordination Fr Fintan was appointed to the Diocese of Eldoret, Kenya. His first appointment was to Mother of the Apostles Seminary. In 1969, he attended a course in catechetics, and was the key person in catechetics in the diocese of Nakuru. From 1976 to 1982, he was involved in teacher training until he took up the position of society leader for Ireland that year.
In 1989, Fr Fintan took up a new role as a member of the first group to go to Zimbabwe. He was stationed in the diocese of Mutare and then the archdiocese of Harare. His final parish was in Dombotombo, the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, Marondera. He retired from Zim- babwe in 2015 and had been living quietly in St Patrick’s, Kiltegan, until his sudden death on January 4, 2019.
Fintan was devoted to his family, to the society and to the people for whom he cared in his priestly and missionary vocation. He had a gentle, quiet, sense of humour.
He’ll be sadly missed, particularly in Zimbabwe, where so many young people benefitted from his great generosity.
Fintan was predeceased by his sister Sister Antonia SSL, and by his brother, Padraig.
He is survived by his sisters, Sr Eilish, Sr Therese Mary, Sr Adrienne, his sister-in-law, his nieces and nephews and their families.
His funeral took place on Monday, January 7, in St Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.