Société des Missions Africaines – Province d'Irlande

né le 2 octobre 1914 à Clara dans le diocèse de Clogher, Irlande membre de la SMA le 29 juin 1937 prêtre le 22 décembre 1940 décédé le 22 août 1962

1942-1962 missionnaire au Nigeria, vicariat de Ondo Ondo, Ado-Ekiti décédé à Navan, Irlande, le 22 août 1962, à l’âge de 48 ans

A Navan (Irlande), le 22 août 1962, retour à Dieu du père Vincent Finnegan, à l'âge de 48 ans.

Vincent Finnegan naquit à Clara, dans le diocèse de Clogher, en 1914. Il fit ses études à Wilton, Kilcogan et Dromantine. Il fit le serment en 1937 et fut ordonné prêtre en décembre 1940. En 1942, le père Finnegan partait pour le vicariat de la Côte du Bénin; en 1943, à la suite des divisions du territoire, il fut attaché au vicariat d'Ondo. Il travailla à Ondo et Ado-Ekiti. Il fut victime d'un accident de moto, lors de son congé en Irlande.

Il venait de célébrer la messe chez les sœurs de la Merci et reçut, immédiatement après l'accident, l'absolution de la part d'un prêtre de passage.

Father Vincent FINNEGAN (1914 - 1962)

Vincent Finnegan was born at Clara, Co Monaghan, in the parish of Errigal Truagh, in the diocese of Clogher, on 2 October 1914. He died as a result of a road accident, in Navan, Co Meath, on 22 August 1962.

Vincent spent his early years in Emyvale, Co Monaghan. He was educated in the colleges of the Society. He studied at St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (1933 1935), before entering the novitiate and house of philosophy at Kilcolgan, Co Galway. He studied theology in the major seminary, at Dromantine, Co Down (1937 1941). Vincent was received as a member of the Society on 29 June 1937, and was ordained a priest, by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 22 December 1940. He was one of a group of nineteen ordained on that day.

After ordination Vincent returned to Dromantine for six months to complete his theology course. He was then appointed to the vicariate of the Bight of Benin, then an extensive jurisdiction in south western Nigeria with its headquarters at Lagos. In February 1942, at the height of the war, he managed to secure a passage on a convoy of ships bound for West Africa. On arrival, the vicar apostolic, Leo Hale Taylor, appointed Vincent to Ilawe district. The principal station of Ilawe had been opened in 1938 under the patronage of St. John. Up to this time Ilawe had been an outstation of Ado Ekiti, but because the people were exceptionally responsive Bishop Taylor decided to give them resident priests. By 1942 there were over 2,000 catholic members and 400 catechumens in the district. On 12 January 1943 the Ondo and Ilorin provinces (which included Ilawe) were detached from the vicariate and erected as a separate jurisdiction under the leadership of Thomas P. Hughes. Vincent was incorporated into the staff of the new vicariate, continuing on in Ilawe. In January 1946 Vincent was transferred to Oro mission, spending a year there before going to Ireland on his first home leave.

On his return to Nigeria, in July 1948, Vincent was posted to Owo mission as first resident missionary. He ministered to a community of 200 catholic members and 600 catechumens. In April 1950 the vicariate was erected as the 'diocese of Ondo', under Bishop Hughes. Vincent was installed as first parish priest in Owo and remained there until he went on his next home leave in October 1952. When Vincent came next to Nigeria, in January 1954, he was appointed first parish priest of St. John's, Okitipupa, which had been founded as an outstation in 1926. St. John's was a vibrant parish with some 24 outstations and a young, growing, catholic community. A year later Vincent was posted superior of St. Matthew's parish, Ondo, where he was assisted by Sean O'Mahony, and later Mick Igoe and Tom Fitzgerald. From 1959 Vincent was parish priest of Ado Ekiti, one of the largest parishes in the diocese and, since 1972, the seat of Ekiti diocese.

Vincent was killed in a motor accident while on leave in Ireland. He had just offered Mass in the chapel of the Sisters of Mercy, Navan, and was taking his sister, Sister Mary Gonzaga, home for the day, when the accident occurred. There was a priest saying his Office at the scene of the accident and he was able to give absolution. Vincent died instantly while his sister survived the accident. About ten days after his death a Solemn Requiem Mass and Office was held for the repose of his soul in Akure, headquarters of Ondo diocese.

As a missionary in Africa Vincent gained a reputation for his zeal in visiting outstations. Living through the period of expansion of elementary schools for universal education, he was very energetic in the work of school construction. He also supervised the building of the St. Louis hospital, Owo. He was a serious minded man, always fully committed, as he had been in the seminary when playing games [he excelled at Gaelic football]. Two of Peter's brothers became priests: J.J. who became a secular priest in the diocese of Clogher; and Phil who joined the Maynooth Mission to China.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.