Kolkata, Mar. 22. Kolkata - One of the unforgettable
Salesians of Kolkata province who joined Mary Help of Christians province
in Australia in 1976 passed away on 22 March 2019. Father Michael Keogh was
92 years of age, had been professed for 68 years as a Salesian, and a priest
for 58 years.
A communique received in Kolkata states, ''I
am sad to inform you that Father Michael Keogh passed away in the early hours
of this morning (22 March). He declined rapidly over the last 3 days, but it
was a peaceful passing. He was conscious and interacting with visitors, the
evening before, despite not being able to speak he put out his hand to us,''
says Rector of his Community Father Brian Ahern at Don Bosco Gawler, in the
archdiocese of Adelaide South Australia.
Father Keogh was born in Quetta, India [now part of Pakistan] on 21 September
1926. At the end of his secondary schooling, he joined the Salesians, making
his first religious profession on the feast of Mary Help of Christians, 24
May 1950. He undertook philosophy and theology studies in Salesian College
Sonada and Sacred Heart College Shillong prior to his ordination as a priest
on 26 June 1960 by saintly Bishop Stephen Ferrando SDB, then bishop of the
Diocese of Shillong in north east India.
On 3 March 2016 Bishop Ferrando was proclaimed to be Venerable after Pope
Francis recognized that Ferrando led a life of heroic virtue.
Father Keogh worked in numerous places in India and Australia including Park
Circus, Bandel and Liluah (Kolkata), Krishnagar (West Bengal); Engadine,
Sunbury, Chadstone, Brooklyn Park, Port Pirie, Victoria Park, and Kelmscott
in Australia.
On hearing about the news, SDB Kolkata WhatsApp group has been receiving
comments and condolences from confreres reminiscing memories of Father
Keogh.
Rector of Bandel aspirantate Father Anthony Erathara recalls Father Keogh as
''a mesmerising storyteller.''
''He was such a wonderful Salesian priest, a friend of all, particularly of
our young aspirants and Brothers (clerics in practical training). I cherish
the valuable help rendered to me through skits and interesting dramas for the
academy of those years,'' says a young cleric of those days at Bandel
aspirantate and now Rector of Salesian College Siliguri Campus, Father (Dr.)
Mathew Pulingathil.
''A great friend of mine, he encouraged me much. He knew how to interact with
youngsters. A good teacher, he coauthored a text book for teaching English to
Bengali students when he was at Don Bosco Krishnagar. A lover of cricket,
hockey, football, drama and storytelling, he had all that young boys loved,''
says Salesian Father Sebastian Champanil, a leading Catholic charismatic
figure in Eastern India.
Another of Salesian, recalls, ''Keogh was a decent human being, never
occupied positions except among boys, one who cared about the Salesian
charism and call in its most refined simplicity. We lost him when he left for
Australia and now the congregation too, obeying the laws of the cycle of
life,'' says a Kolkata Salesian Father Joseph Thannickal.
Golden jubilee of his priestly ordination was held 26 June 2010 with a large
gathering of family, friends, parishioners, guests and confreres at St. John
Bosco Church, Brooklyn Park. South Australia. Members of Father Keogh's
family from Victoria and Queensland were present, particularly his sister
Kathleen. At the end of Mass, it is said, Father Keogh joined three other
parishioners and as a quartet sang a hymn in Latin, Laudate Dominium (Praise
the Lord).
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Mesmerising storyteller is no more
By C.M. Paul
Kolkata, Mar. 22. Kolkata - One of the unforgettable Salesians of Kolkata province who joined Mary Help of Christians province in Australia in 1976 passed away on 22 March 2019. Father Michael Keogh was 92 years of age, had been professed for 68 years as a Salesian, and a priest for 58 years.
A communique received in Kolkata states, ''I am sad to inform you that Father Michael Keogh passed away in the early hours of this morning (22 March). He declined rapidly over the last 3 days, but it was a peaceful passing. He was conscious and interacting with visitors, the evening before, despite not being able to speak he put out his hand to us,'' says Rector of his Community Father Brian Ahern at Don Bosco Gawler, in the archdiocese of Adelaide South Australia.
Father Keogh was born in Quetta, India [now part of Pakistan] on 21 September 1926. At the end of his secondary schooling, he joined the Salesians, making his first religious profession on the feast of Mary Help of Christians, 24 May 1950. He undertook philosophy and theology studies in Salesian College Sonada and Sacred Heart College Shillong prior to his ordination as a priest on 26 June 1960 by saintly Bishop Stephen Ferrando SDB, then bishop of the Diocese of Shillong in north east India.
On 3 March 2016 Bishop Ferrando was proclaimed to be Venerable after Pope Francis recognized that Ferrando led a life of heroic virtue.
Father Keogh worked in numerous places in India and Australia including Park Circus, Bandel and Liluah (Kolkata), Krishnagar (West Bengal); Engadine, Sunbury, Chadstone, Brooklyn Park, Port Pirie, Victoria Park, and Kelmscott in Australia.
On hearing about the news, SDB Kolkata WhatsApp group has been receiving comments and condolences from confreres reminiscing memories of Father Keogh.
Rector of Bandel aspirantate Father Anthony Erathara recalls Father Keogh as ''a mesmerising storyteller.''
''He was such a wonderful Salesian priest, a friend of all, particularly of our young aspirants and Brothers (clerics in practical training). I cherish the valuable help rendered to me through skits and interesting dramas for the academy of those years,'' says a young cleric of those days at Bandel aspirantate and now Rector of Salesian College Siliguri Campus, Father (Dr.) Mathew Pulingathil.
''A great friend of mine, he encouraged me much. He knew how to interact with youngsters. A good teacher, he coauthored a text book for teaching English to Bengali students when he was at Don Bosco Krishnagar. A lover of cricket, hockey, football, drama and storytelling, he had all that young boys loved,'' says Salesian Father Sebastian Champanil, a leading Catholic charismatic figure in Eastern India.
Another of Salesian, recalls, ''Keogh was a decent human being, never occupied positions except among boys, one who cared about the Salesian charism and call in its most refined simplicity. We lost him when he left for Australia and now the congregation too, obeying the laws of the cycle of life,'' says a Kolkata Salesian Father Joseph Thannickal.
Golden jubilee of his priestly ordination was held 26 June 2010 with a large gathering of family, friends, parishioners, guests and confreres at St. John Bosco Church, Brooklyn Park. South Australia. Members of Father Keogh's family from Victoria and Queensland were present, particularly his sister Kathleen. At the end of Mass, it is said, Father Keogh joined three other parishioners and as a quartet sang a hymn in Latin, Laudate Dominium (Praise the Lord).
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