Société des Missions Africaines - membre honoraire

né le 2 juillet 1919 dans le diocèse de Cork, Irlande prêtre le 26 mai 1945 membre honoraire de la SMA le 3 juillet 1992 décédé le 27 février 2002

1945-1960 diocèse de Southwark, Angleterre 1960-1988 professeur de chimie à l’université catholique de Washington, USA 1988-1994 Lisieux, France, retiré 1994-2002 maison des Rédemptoristes, Paris, retiré décédé à Paris, France, le 27 février 2002 à l’âge de 82 ans

John A. Feeley was born in Cork City (the family address was 2, Saint Kevin Street), in the diocese of Cork, on 2nd July 1919.
He died in the Redemptorist House, Paris, France, on 27th February 2002.

John A. Feeley was one of three children born to Michael Joseph and Hanorah (nee Kehilly). He received his elementary and secondary education at the Christian Brothers’ North Monastery schools, excelling as a student and coming first in Ireland in chemistry and history in his Leaving Certificate. On completing school he enrolled at University College Cork where he was awarded B.Sc. and M.A. degrees. He then decided to study for the priesthood and was ordained for the diocese of Southwark, England, on 26th May 1945. From 1945 until 1960 he served in diocesan pastoral and teaching assignments.

In 1960, with the permission of his bishop, he took up a teaching assignment in the Department of Chemistry at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. He remained in this post until his retirement in 1988. John retired to Lisieux, France, residing there until 1994. He then moved to the Redemptorist House in Paris where he died peacefully on 27th February 2002.

John was a Francophile and lover of French literature. The authorities of the Catholic University in Washington wanted him to take on the post of Dean of the Science Faculty, but he declined not wanting to get enmeshed in the academic politics which such a post would inevitably bring with it. However he was greatly esteemed in the university which sought and obtained for him from Rome the honour of a Bene Meriti medal. In temperament John was described as being very precise and exact.

John’s elder brother, Michael Joseph, was a member of the American Province of the Society. After a long life of service to the Society in America and overseas, Michael died in the Bon Secours hospital, Cork, on 11th July 2001. John also had four cousins in religion: Sister Clare Feeley, St. John of God, Ireland; Rev. Joseph Feeley, Manchester; Rev. Dennis Kehilly, Cork; and Mother M. Feeley, Poor Clares, England. John, along with his sister, Bridget (Beta), was made an honorary member of the Society during the course of a Mass held in the House Oratory at Blackrock Road, on 19th December 1992

He is buried in Wilton Cemetery.