Departed shepherd
Pastor of Mary, Mother of God Parish remembered as compassionate priest
By Chris Donahue
Staff writer
HILLSBOROUGH — A few weeks after Msgr. Liam A. Minogue, who knew he was terminally ill, bid a public farewell to members of Mary, Mother of God Parish at weekend Masses, his flock returned to say goodbye to their beloved pastor at a funeral Mass March 9.
Msgr. Minogue, who had served as pastor of Mary, Mother of God for 14 years, died March 6 at the age of 64. He was buried in his hometown of Mountshannon, County Clare, Ireland.
Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski, principal celebrant of the Mass, was joined by about 100 diocesan priests as well as members of the religious community and diocesan officials.
Several members of firefighter and law enforcement agencies also attended the Mass because of Msgr. Minogue’s service as a chaplain.
Final thoughts
Bishop Bootkoski offered condolences to Msgr. Minogue’s family, some of whom were present at the Mass, to parishioners and everyone who was touched by Msgr. Minogue’s priesthood. Because of Msgr. Minogue’s work, his spirit will live on in the parish and stories will be told about him for years to come, the bishop said.
Bishop Bootkoski said one example of Msgr. Minogue’s caring nature
occurred four days before he died. Msgr. Minogue called the bishop to tell him he would pray for him and support any decision he had to make.
“He was a great man and a great priest,” Bishop Bootkoski said. “I thank Liam for being that.”
In his homily, Msgr. Michael Walsh of the Diocese of Trenton, a classmate of Msgr. Minogue’s at St. Patrick’s Seminary, Carlow, Ireland, referred often to the day’s Gospel reading (John 10:1-18).
“Liam shepherded in the Diocese of Trenton and the Diocese of Metuchen and beyond the parish boundaries,” Msgr. Walsh said. “He shared the pain of many people in many different places with an empathy that was beyond measure, in a way that truly expressed what all of us believe Jesus is about.
“He recognized and believed firmly what St. Augustine said: ‘See what you believe, become what you receive.’ Liam centered his priesthood on the Eucharist and he celebrated the Eucharist with people in many places.
“The last five weeks though were when he shepherded the most. Waiting to be called to eternal life he shepherded everybody he touched, on the telephone and in his home. The people who loved him until his death experienced love in return.”
Thomas Groome, a professor of theology and religious education at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass., offered a eulogy for Msgr. Minogue. He had also met Msgr. Minogue at St. Patrick’s Seminary.
“I never have known anyone who lived with the compassion more faithfully than Liam. To the very marrow of his life, he imitated the compassion of Jesus,” Groome said.
“He never complained in the face of dreadful illness,” Groome added. “He had rock-solid faith that he was simply going home to God. I said to him one day, ‘If I was dying at 64 with all the value that you have I would be so angry and so fearful.’ He said, ‘What would I be afraid of? What would I would be angry about? I have my faith.”
Dorothy DeLuca of Hillsborough, a member of the parish for 20 years who serves on the worship mini-council, said Msgr. Minogue always had “a twinkle in his eye and a little-boy grin on his face.”
“He was very energetic and he loved the kids,” DeLuca added. “His special passion was getting the basketball court for the kids and the youth group. He established special youth Masses for them. He really wanted the kids involved and to be part of the parish because he knew that they were the future of the church.
“Even when he made his final appearance, he asked all the boys to consider the priesthood. He said he would have never have changed a thing. It was such a powerful thing to him.”
Msgr. Seamus Brennan, pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Somerville, and also a native of Ireland, said he first met Msgr. Minogue when he came to serve the Diocese of Trenton in 1972. As pastors of neighboring parishes and as members of the County Seat Deanery, Msgr. Brennan and Msgr. Minogue remained close as colleagues in Christ and friends.
“I consulted him on a number of issues, especially concerning schools and youth ministry,” said Msgr. Brennan, who attended a Super Bowl party Feb. 4 at Msgr. Minogue’s home. “He ran a good parish and showed great openness to involving the laity in parish affairs.”
Msgr. Brennan described Msgr. Minogue as a man of great wit who loved to tell stories, loved people and was very hospitable.
Toiling in the vineyard
Msgr. Minogue was born Feb 7, 1943. He was the son of David Mary (nee Quirke) Minogue.
After completing secondary school (high school) at Limerick C.B.S., he studied at Mungret College, Limerick, and St. Patrick’s Seminary. Msgr. Minogue was ordained to the priesthood June 8, 1968 in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow.
After his ordination, he began his first assignment on the Feast of St. Rose of Lima as parochial vicar at St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold. He then served as parochial vicar at Incarnation Parish, Trenton; St. Anthony Parish, Trenton; and as temporary administrator at St. Veronica Parish, Howell; Our Lady of Victories Parish, Baptistown; St. George Parish, Washington Crossing; and St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant.
Msgr. Minogue served as pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish, New Brunswick, from June 1981 to March 1993. He served as administrator at St. John the Baptist Parish, New Brunswick, in July 1982, then as temporary administrator there in December 1984.
He was appointed the sixth pastor of Mary, Mother of God Parish in March 1993. During his pastorate, Msgr. Minogue oversaw the construction of a 16-classroom building for religious education; opened a preschool; initiated a collaborative ministry program; and organized a Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapter.
He also served as chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and was the current chaplain of both the Hillsborough fire and police departments. He was a former chaplain of the New Brunswick Police Department.
Msgr. Minogue served the Diocese of Metuchen in several capacities, among them membership of the Board of Consultors; Priestly Life and Ministry Committee; the Flame of Charity Foundation; and director of Development, planning, giving and corporate relations.
In October 2001, Msgr. Minogue was chosen by the Diocese of Metuchen as the Flame of Charity Community Servant of the Year. He became a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, in September 2003. He was conferred with the title of Rev. Msgr. by Pope John Paul II in March 2004.
He was the founding chaplain for the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Middlesex County, which honored him as Irishman of the Year in 1981.
Msgr. Minogue was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Brigid; and his brothers, Sean, Michael and Patrick. He is survived by his sisters, Maura Brogan; brothers, Timothy (Brod) and David; many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and many beloved friends and parishioners.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Hillsborough Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mary, Mother of God Building Fund, 157 S. Triangle Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law