By 
TRIBUTES have been paid to Tyrone priest, Fr PJ Gormley, who carried out immense work as a missionary after coming to prominence initially as a talented gaelic footballer.
Ordained to the SMA Fathers in 1972, Fr Gormley spent a lifetime ministering to the people of Zambia. He was among the first priests to travel there more than 50 years ago and spent many years working among there.
In an event marking 50 years of the SMA Fathers in Zambia, Fr PJ reflected on its aim to build churches through small Christian communities there, and how that mission was intertwined with challenges such as liturgical tensions and debates on education.
He emphasised the importance of teamwork and collaboration, citing the SMA as a uniting force that bridged gaps between different religious groups.
In later years he was deeply involved and supportive of the work of the Spirit of Paul McGirr Trust and the Peregrini group at St Ciaran’s College in Ballygawley.
As a footballer, he holds the distinction of being among the very few players to have won Tyrone Junior, Intermediate and Senior medals. He represented his club, Augher, as a determined defender, and played on the team which won the county titles in the three grades in 1962, 1964 and 1976 respectively.
He is the third member of their historic O’Neill Cup winning team of 1976 to pass away in recent months after the deaths of Tony Marlow and Tom McKeagney.
“Fr PJ was a proud Augher man and GAA was always close to his heart. As a member of the Augher team that won the Senior Championship in 1976, he helped write a proud chapter in our history and a moment that still lives long in the memories of our club and parish,” the club said.
“While his vocation took him far from home as a missionary priest, Augher was never far from his thoughts. Fr PJ always kept strong ties with the club and parish, and he took great pride in the fortunes of Augher St Macartan’s and the community he loved so much.
“More than the medals or achievements, Fr PJ will be remembered as the caring, gentle and humble person he was. From every Augher Gael, we thank you Fr PJ for being a true, kind-hearted person and for the pride you always carried for your club and your home place.”
Mass for Fr Gormley took place at the Dromantine Retreat Centre on Saturday. His Requiem Funeral Mass is in St Macartan’s Church Augher on Monday at 12 noon.
