Outgoing Regional Director of the Columbans in Ireland, Fr Raymond Husband, has paid tribute to his successor, Fr David Kenneally, and expressed his gratitude to his Columban confreres, the staff, supporters and friends as he passes the baton on after six years at the helm.
Wishing Fr David the “very best”, Fr Raymond described him as “a very competent man” and said he would “bring his own gifts and talents to the position of regional director”.
The change in leadership takes place on 23rd November, the feast day of St Columban, in the chapel in Dalgan.
Fr Padraig O’Donovan will work with Fr David as Assistant Regional Director, a role he served in with Fr Raymond.
This week, staff in the regional offices held a farewell gathering for Fr Raymond, who will be missed as a popular, kind, interested and hard-working director.
Speaking afterwards, the Navan native told Columbans.ie that when he took up his appointment six years ago he saw his “number one priority” as “care of the elderly priests” in St Columban’s and particularly the elderly missionaries in the nursing home in Dalgan.
“Because we are such an elderly group of men, the role of director is to support them and care for them. I would have seen that as a priority.”
“The nursing home was under threat and we as a region worked hard to ensure the continuation of the nursing home. There have been challenges and even the possibility of closing it down. We had to work through that.”
“I think as Columbans we are blessed that we have such a good and loyal staff in the nursing home, in the offices and in the house. I have always been happy with the staff and working alongside the staff – I am very grateful to them.”
He acknowledged that “one of the sadnesses in my six years was that 62 Columbans went to the Lord. There is a sadness. These are men that I would have known and worked with in various stages. It is part of our history.”
However, he also recalled that during the Covid lockdowns, Dalgan remained relatively untouched. “In the first wave we didn’t lose anybody. It was only in the second wave one man died in hospital and another one here. It was exceptional.”
“Fr David Kenneally took on the health portfolio during the pandemic and he did a tremendous job. We worked as a team, Frs David, Donie Hogan, Padraig O’Donovan, Gerry Nealon and myself – we were the committee and we looked after the various aspects of the regulations.”
“We achieved a lot in the six years. One of the things that stands out for me is that when I came into the office the sale of Dowdstown House was an issue, its transition from Columban property to sale. Another headache at the time was the farm. We were going through a series of managers. So the Regional Council decided to lease the farm and that was a very positive thing. I am very happy with the tenants, they are working to try and make it more environmentally-friendly with the re-seeding of the paddocks. I am very proud and happy with that.”
“Down the years, as much as possible I tried to be consultative with the members and have them take responsibility for our own mission here.”
Among the initiatives he is happy to have supported include the Migrants Centre in Dublin, Cultúr in Navan, supporting the lay missionaries such as Kunja’s work with those in direct provision, and interfaith work.
“Angie is a great lay missionary and worker and now Fr Pat Colgan and Fr Paul Glynn are home and the region is supporting them. It might be a few men and women on the ground, but I think the Columbans have a really good record in social justice and interfaith dialogue.”
We wish Fr Ray every blessing and good wish for his next mission – he will be missed!