FR TOM DONNELLY
OVER 30 YEARS ago, on a visit home to Drogheda, Fr Tom Donnelly had a dream.
It was to build a church - but not any old church - this would be a first in many ways.
And years later, in 2003, it was officially dedicated and Tom, remarking on the day, paid the ultimate tribute to his mother, Gertrude - St Rose of Lima in Reno, Nevada was her inspiration.
‘Mom, thanks for always being there for me. I dedicate this night for you,’ he remarked as the church doors opened for the first time.
Fr Tom’s dream was sparked in 1984 and it would eventually see the first new Catholic Church in the Diocese of Reno in 32 years.
With the commitment of 60 families, in 1996 Father Donnelly founded St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, named after the new world’s first canonized saint. In its early years, the parish partnered with the principals of Pleasant Valley and Brown Elementary Schools and later the Mountain View Montessori School in Reno to use their school facilities as a place of worship.
Reno grew and grew and they needed a permanent home. Gifts from two founding families and a Catholic parish within the Diocese provided $1.2 million.
The ground was broken in 2002 and on Saturday, August 2nd, 2003, Father Tom Fabian Donnelly, the man from the Boyneside, celebrated the first Mass in the new Church.
The design of the church suggests a ship in sail and that came from Fr Donnelly whose family were closely associated with fishing and the sea.
Fr Donnelly didn’t get many years to enjoy the fruits of his endeavours and retired in 2007 due to health problems, but his legacy lived on.
On August 31 last, he passed away at the age of 82.
Born on May 9, 1936 in Drogheda, to Thomas Donnelly and Gertrude Kelly-Donnelly, he went to the USA at the age of 20 to attend the Seminary in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. He returned to Ireland and was ordained to the Religious Order of the Sacred Hearts. After ordination, he was assigned to teach English at Catholic High school in Orange, California where he taught for 24 years, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.
He came to Reno in 1985 and his assignments were Our Lady of the Snows; St. John the Baptist, in Lovelock; Corpus Christi, Carson City; Our Lady of Wisdom in Reno.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Trudy Reid. He is survived by his brother Paddy (Mora) Donnelly, sister, Laura (Martin) Burke, numerous nieces and nephews living in Ireland, England and Australia.
His funeral mass was in the church he built on September 14. So fitting.
‘A man that touched everyone’s heart and his clever words will never be forgotten.’