Société des Missions Africaines - Province des Etats-Unis

né le 2 octobre 1917 à Ballinrobe dans le diocèse de Tuam, Irlande serment perpétuel le 12 juin 1943 prêtre le 19 décembre 1943 décédé le 2 juillet 2001

1944-1950 Nigeria 1950-1952 archidiocèse de New York 1952-1953 archidiocèse de Washington 1953-1958 paroisse Saint-Antoine, Philadelphie 1958 Dedham, animation missionnaire et vocationnelle 1958-1965 paroisse Sainte-Marie, Illinois 1965-1970 paroisse Saint-Joseph, Equality, Illinois paroisse Saint-François de Sales, Stonefort 1970-1980 paroisse Saint-Patrick, Tipton Illinois paroisse de l’Immaculée-Conception, Illinois 1980-1997 paroisse Saint-Patrick, Enfield, Illinois 1997-2001 retiré à Belleville, Illinois décédé à Belleville, Illinois, Etats-Unis, le 2 juillet 2001 à l’âge de 83 ans

Michael Maughan was born in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, Ireland, in the Archdiocese of Tuam, on October 2, 1917.
He died in St. Elizabeth Hospital, Belleville, Illinois, on July 2, 2001.

One of a family of seven children born to Thomas and Catherine (nee Gibbons) Maughan, his mother was a second cousin of Ireland’s well-known Cardinal James Gibbons. Michael attended the local parish school in Ballinrobe for his elementary education. Living near the Sacred Heart College, Ballinafad, it was not surprising that, with his leaning towards priesthood, he should enter this institution in 1933. Three years later he entered St. Joseph’s College, Wilton, Cork (the senior secondary college), graduating in June 1938. In September of the same year he commenced his novitiate and philosophical studies in the Society's seminary at Kilcolgan, Co Galway. He was received as a member of the Society on June 30, 1940 and in the following September began his theological studies in the Society's major seminary, at Dromantine, near Newry, Co Down. Michael was ordained a priest on December 19, 1943, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry. He was one of a group of twelve ordained on that day. The ordaining prelate was Bishop Daniel Mageean, of Down and Connor diocese.

After ordination Michael was assigned to Nigeria, to the Vicariate of Asaba-Benin in mid-western Nigeria. Because of the war it was difficult to obtain a sea passage and Michael did not reach his destination until late in 1944. He was to spend seven years in Nigeria. Among the stations in which he served were Ashaka where he assisted Bob O’Regan before becoming Superior. For a period too Michael served as a chaplain to the West African Division.

In 1950 Michael came home in poor health and he was advised not to return to the tropics. After a period of rest he came to the USA where he worked in a temporary capacity in the Archdiocese of New York, serving first in the Military Academy at WestPoint and then at Cornwall-on-Hudson. During 1952-1953 he held an appointment in the Archdiocese of Washington DC. At this point he transferred membership from the Irish to the American Province and was posted as assistant pastor at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Philadelphia. Five years later, in 1958, he was appointed to the SMA promotion staff in Dedham Mass. However within a matter of months a vacancy occurred in the diocese of Belleville where the Society had maintained missions since 1921. The American Provincial posted Michael to fill the vacancy in St. Mary’s parish, East St. Louis, Illinois. He remained pastor of this vibrant African-American parish until 1965 when desegregation made such parishes obsolete and the parish was closed and its property sold to the highway department. Michael was later to write interestingly of this: ’the closing of the parishes in the environment of desegregation resulted in the loss of ownership, stability and community for the black Catholics in East St. Louis.’ The Bishop of Belleville requested that Michael be allowed stay on in the diocese and the American Provincial consented. Subsequently he ministered in the parishes of St. Joseph in Equality, and St. Francis de Sales, in Stonefort. Between 1970-80 he worked in St. Patrick’s parish in Tipton, and Immaculate Conception parish in Madonnaville. His final posting was to St. Patrick’s parish, Enfield, Il. Michael retired from the active ministry in 1997, making his home in the Hincke Residence for Priests in Enfield.

Michael was a celebrated athlete in his youth. He Irish champion in 1938 over 800 yards and second-placed in the then far-flung British Empire Race of the same distance. He was poised to compete in the Olympics when they were canceled by the outbreak of War in 1939. He was in his 84th year at the time of his death, having served Belleville diocese for some 40 years. After his death a parishioner from Enfield, his last appointment, wrote to the American Provincial the following rather curious tribute: ‘In our parish at Enfield, a tiny parish of about 70 families, he was at first something of a curiosity with the heavy brogue and coming with his own housekeeper, Sue. She got cancer soon after and died. Fr Mike inherited her cat, a Maine Coon named Timmy, who was his companion through the rest of his pastorate… He was very faithful in visiting the sick and making hospital calls, and was always there when families were in trouble. He was also very devoted to his family in Ireland and went back to Ballinrobe every year. But he also loved America and was devoted to the idea of democracy.’

He is buried in the priests section of the St. Patrick’s church cemetery, Enfield, Illinois, USA.