Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 25 mars 1944 à Newtownstewart dans le dans le diocèse de Derry, Irlande membre de la SMA le 25 juin 1962 prêtre le 18 décembre 1968 décédé le 6 juin 1996

1969-1970 UCC Cork, further studies 1970-1973 collège de Ballinafad 1973-1975 Blackrock Road, Cork, animation vocationnelle 1976-1977 Dublin, animation vocationnelle 1977-1978 diocèse de Derry 1979-1990 Blackrock Road, Cork, animation vocationnelle 1990-1996 Blackrock Road, Cork, development office décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 6 juin 1996, à l'âge de 52 ans

Vincent O'Neill was born at Newtownstewart (his home address was Main St., Newtownstewart, Omagh, Co Tyrone), in the diocese of Derry, on 25 March 1944. He died, unexpectedly, in the Society's Irish motherhouse, at Blackrock Road, Cork, on 6 June 1996.

Vincent O'Neill received his secondary education at the Christian Brothers schools, Omagh (1955-1958) and St. Columb's college, Derry (1958-1960). He joined the Society's 'spiritual year' or novitiate at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in September 1961. A year later he was promoted to the Society's university hostel at Wilton where for the next three years he pursued academic studies at U.C.C. In June 1965 he was awarded a B.A. degree and in the following September he entered the Society's major seminary, at Dromantine, Co Down, to commence his theological studies. Vincent was received as a permanent member of the Society on 6 November 1968. He was ordained a priest, along with seven classmates, in St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, Co Down, by Bishop Eugene O'Doherty of Dromore, on 18 December 1968.

After ordination Vincent returned to Dromantine to complete his theology course. He was then appointed to northern Nigeria and assigned to the tyrocinium at Kagoro for his initial training. However throughout his student career Vincent had suffered ill-health (he had his first spinal surgery in 1964) and he was unable to travel to Nigeria because of a re-occurrence of the spinal ailment. Instead he was appointed to study for a higher diploma in education, residing in Wilton. Vincent secured his diploma in June 1970 and was then appointed to the staff of the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo, the Society's juniorate or secondary school. In addition to his teaching duties Vincent was appointed director of students, a task which gave him responsibility for discipline in the college. In October 1973 Vincent suffered a further re-occurrence of his back ailment and was hospitalised in the Cork Orthopaedic hospital for some weeks. He was then appointed to the promotion staff at Blackrock Road. During this period he worked in the Main Promotion Office, and then was given charge of the promotion of the African Missionary.

In October 1974 Vincent's superiors decided that he should go to work in the diocese of Ilorin in Nigeria. However, at that time pastoral visas for Nigeria were restricted and Vincent's application was unsuccessful. It was then decided that Vincent should go to Liberia. However ill-health intervened and eventually, in January 1976, after a period of hospitalisation and convalescence Vincent was appointed to the Family Vocation Crusade Office at Wellington Road, Dublin. He spent most of 1978 in pastoral work in Derry diocese (in the parish of Buncrana, Co Donegal and later in St. John's parish, Coleraine), before resuming promotion work at Blackrock Road. In March 1980 Vincent was appointed Manager of the African Missionary, a post he held for the next ten years. During this period he was frequently hospitalised and in 1988 had a serious cancer operation which required the removal of a kidney. In 1990 the Society decided to establish a Development Office at Blackrock Road, to process the many grant applications made by S.M.A. missionaries to Aid agencies and also to provide emergency relief. Vincent was placed in charge of this office and he was to discharge his responsibilities with great enthusiasm and skill up to the time of his death. As an earnest of his dedication to this work Vincent returned to U.C.C. where in 1993 he was awarded a diploma in Development Studies.

Vincent's death came suddenly on 6th June, Feast of Corpus Christi. Soon after reaching his room around 10 p.m., he was returning a telephone call when he felt unwell and died peacefully in his chair at his desk. His death, at the age of 52 years, brought to a premature end the priestly life of one of the Society's most colourful characters and deeply saddened the many people whose lives had been touched over the years by his caring and compassionate nature. Nobody who ever met Vincent could forget him, such was the impact of his engaging personality, his firmly held and even more strongly articulated opinions, interspersed with nuggets of humour, and his deliberately disguised sensitivity towards everyone, especially anyone in any kind of trouble. Vincent spent many years in various areas of S.M.A. promotion work both in Cork and Dublin. He generously used his great organisational skills and his ability to motivate others and elicit a positive response.

During his decade as Manager of the African Missionary, he not only successfully promoted the magazine, but he also developed a large network of promoters and friends around the country. Considering his experience and organisational skills it was not surprising that he was asked to take on the demanding task of organising the annual S.M.A. pilgrimage to Knock. Just two weeks before his death Vincent was busy in Knock ensuring that everything was running smoothly and that all his confreres were in the right place at the right time doing whatever they were supposed to be doing. In the middle of it all he found time to have a chat with his many friends who had come from around the country. At the end of the day the parish priest of Knock, Mgr. Dominic Greely, said that the S.M.A. pilgrimage was one of the best organised - another eloquent tribute to the ability and dedicated work of Vincent O'Neill.

As Director of the Society's Development Office Vincent used his organisational experience and exceptional computer skills as well as his wide range of contacts in political, business and social circles to help the S.M.A. mission in Africa. When the civil war broke out in Liberia and people were in desperate need, Vincent responded by organising a nation-wide appeal for food, clothing and financial support. His appeal was so successful and the response of the people of Ireland so generous that he was able to ship about 65 containers bringing more than £1 million worth of much needed relief to the people of war-torn Liberia. This huge effort was much appreciated by the people of Liberia and the missionaries working there. It should be recorded that Vincent did all this while struggling with several serious illnesses and often severe pain.

But these did not diminish or dampen his courageous spirit. In fact he turned his long experience of suffering pain and human struggle to great use and the benefit of others. A good example of this was his work for Tabor Lodge (Belgooly, Co Cork), a treatment centre for those suffering from alcohol, drugs and gambling addictions. Vincent was Spiritual Director and a member of the Board of Management, and also a good friend and companion to the staff and residents. From the time Tabor Lodge first opened its doors on January 9th 1989, Vincent played a leading role in its activities, which included not only the steady expansion of services but also the construction of a large extension, opened in 1995. On the day he died Vincent offered Mass at Tabor Lodge. He then posted the first edition of the Tabor Lodge newsletter, Tabor Times, which he designed and compiled and which many people received the following day.

One confrere who walked closely with Vincent during good and bad times, on learning of his death wrote the following reflections: 'He was a good and faithful friend to many people, he was a loyal member of the S.M.A., he was an unrepentant Irish Republican (although he had good friends across the political and religious divide), and a man with a great and generous heart. He was not blessed with good health and I thank God that he was able to serve more than 27 years in the priesthood. May he rest in Peace... I am quite sure he will continue in eternity to strongly voice his opinions and even to disturb the peace if that is what he sees as necessary. He will be remembered for many things, not the least of which was his own struggle and triumph over adversity'.

His closest collaborator in Tabor Lodge wrote:' The Lord blessed Vincent with an abundance of talent which he generously used for the benefit of all. Such was his general knowledge he could talk on any subject. He was a tough negotiator, a politician, a computer expert, a born leader and, above all, a gentle and zealous priest. Over the years the burden of illness never dampened Vincent's spirit. Instead, he turned his long experience of pain and suffering to great benefit for others. We will miss his friendship, his northern accent, his strongly held political views, his sense of humour, his expert advice and even the smell of his pipe tobacco. We were enriched by his presence and saddened by his departure. May he rest in peace!'

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.