Our Clergy at Holy Family

Archdiocese of
Birmingham
Prayer for Vocations

Lord God
your beloved son said to us;
ask the Lord of the harvest into his harvest.
So we come to you,
offering our prayers
and our sufferings
for the needs of the Church
in the world today.
We pray that many may hear
your call to serve you
in the priesthood,
the diaconate, consecrated life
and lay ministeries.
Give their families and friends
the grace to support and encourage them.
Give to those you choose
eagerness to answer your call;
humility and generosity
to make you known and loved;
and faithfulness to persevere
in their dedication.
through Christ our lord.
Amen.
Mary mother of Jesus, who
came among us as a servant,
Pray for all who share in
his saving work.
Amen.

Forthcoming Special events in Our Parish
May 2nd 2006 Fr Des Devenney our parish priest celebrates the 25th anniversary of his ordination.

In 2007 OUR new Church will have been opened 40 years. We are hoping to combine the 40th aniversary of the opening of the church with consecration of the church.
We congratulate Fr Pat Kilgariff a curate in Holy Family parish from 1966 - 1972 who celebrates the 40th aniversary of his ordination on March 19th 2006

**Fr Des Deveney our current Parish Priest**

Fr. A Donlon Our Parish Priest from 1986 till 2004

(with his housekeeper Fiona at their retirement presentation)*

Fr. Donlon is one of four brothers, Aiden, Brendan, Kevin, together with our own FR. Aegus G Donlon, all are priests. In 1992 they all came to Holy family for a Family re-union and concelebrated Mass together.


The Brothers Donlon Left to right
Aiden A priest in texas
Kevin A Redemptorist priest in Dublin
Bishop Pargeter Brendan A retired priest from this Diocese Aegus Gabrielle Our former Parish priest

Rev. Cliff Ducket (Deacon (Rtd)) left and right Fr Lingala-Skaag Sarvewara, a visiting priest from India

Our India Connection

Rev Pat Oldman

Sr.Angela

We are very proud in this parish of:
Fr Gerry Sheehy. Fr Gerry, son of Ann and Gerry is a true'son' of this parish and a product of our school. Fr Gerry is a missionary priest with the SCJ, the Sacred Heart Fathers. He has spent many years working in the Phillipines and is now recently started work in Vietnam.

And also:

Fr. Eddie Bermingham another son of the parish, a Jesuit priest working currently in Trinidad.
Link to Fr Eddie

Fr Lingala-Skaag Sarvewara, a visiting priest from India . Fr. Sarverwara, came to our parish last year and stole our hearts. He is an adopted son of one of our parishioners and prefers to be called Fr. Sarves. He came last year on a visit to his adopted family here. Fr. Sarves lives and works among the lowest of the low classes-the untouchables in the district of Amagampalli in the diocese of KADAPA in Southern India. The temperatures there frequently reach 55? centigrade, has NO rain, and has had only one light shower in the last five years. Their plight is desperate as not only are his people of the lowest cast, and poverty stricken, because of the weather little or no crops will grow, disease is rife. Fr. Sarves very often has to travel hundreds of miles between Mass centres and has to rely on lay catechists to run the hospitals, churches orphanages and schools in his absence until he can get back. He came at a very opportune time last year. Our Parish priest at that time, Fr Donlon, was in hospital and on recuperation leave, Fr. Sarves stepped in and with the occasional assistance of other clergy from our deanary, ran our parish in the absence of Fr, Donlon. This year he returned because of a family bereavement. Again it coincided with our new Parish priest Fr.Devenney being away from the parish, first running a Mission in a nearby parish, secondly in hospital himself. On his first visit., some of the ladies in the parish raised money for his work by doing a sponsored walk. The money raised enabled him to buy a piece of land for his church and orphanage. This year, a considerable sum was raised from a collection, another sponsored walk and private donations. This will enable him to help his people even more. Anyone wanting to know more about the work of Fr. Sarves or to contribute to his work contact Mrs Mary Skaag via Fr Des.