Omagh priest receives Vatican recognition

AN Omagh native who dedicated his ministry to the SMA Fatherhood in Nigeria, has been bestowed with one of the Vatican’s highest accolades.

Pope Francis has conferred the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award on Fr Mark Monaghan during a special investiture ceremony held in his Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna. The award is a decoration from the Holy See and Pope Francis for distinguished service to the Catholic Church from lay people and clergy.

Fr Mark, ordained in 1970, celebrated his golden jubilee of priesthood in 2020, reaching five decades of devoted service.

Fr Eugene Hasson, parish priest of Drumragh, said the parish community had greeted Fr Monaghan’s news with ‘immense joy’.

“Fr Mark has served in Nigeria since his ordination in 1970 with dedication and distinction, and he is equally generous with his availability to us when he comes home on holidays.

“We are very proud of Fr Mark and on behalf of the parish of Drumragh, I pray God’s spirit upon him into the future.”

Fr Mark attended Culmore Primary school, before proceeding to St Columb’s College in Derry.

Apart from seven years on the staff of SMA House of Formation in Maynooth from 1980-87, Fr Mark has spent all his priestly life in Nigeria, working n education and for the past 36 years in the pastoral ministry.