Fr Fintan Keegan RIP
Fintan Keegan, who at 98 years, nine months and one day was the longest living Columban ever, died peacefully on 5th November, 2007, at St Columban's Nursing Home in Bristol, RI. Fintan was born in Warrenpoint, Co. Down, Ireland on Feb. 4, 1909. He was educated at the Christian Brothers School in Newry and St. Joseph’s College in Roscrea. He entered Dalgan in 1927 and was ordained Dec. 21, 1933. |
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Fintan spent his entire missionary life in the United States. After ordination, Fintan was assigned to teach at Silver Creek where he served in various capacities as professor, Spiritual Director and member of the Rector’s Council for eleven years.
In 1945 he was appointed Rector of St. Columban’s College in Milton, MA. He served as rector until 1951 when he was appointed once again to Silver Creek to serve as vice-rector. The next year he served on the promotion team in Silver Creek.
In late 1953 Fintan was appointed Vice-Director in Omaha where he served with two Directors. He also served on the promotion team and in 1964 was the director of promotion of the US.
Fintan moved to San Francisco in 1967 as a member of the promotion team. He went to Milton in 1969 as Superior of the promotion house. He then moved back to San Francisco in 1972 to serve in the same capacity there. Fintan served on the Promotion/Mission Awareness team in San Francisco for twenty years - 1972 until 1992 when he retired in Bristol.
Fintan kept himself in shape in Bristol by a regular routine of exercise and walking. He celebrated the 70th anniversary of his ordination in 2003.
Fintan was always a man of good humour. At Tom Convery’s funeral last February, he accompanied the procession to the cemetery. After the Final Prayers Fintan grabbed the arm of another Columban and said, “Stay with me. I don’t want to be left here before my time!” Now he too is with the Lord.
May he rest in peace.