Page 44 - The Gonzaga Record 1986
P. 44
Throughout the Sixth year in school
I struggled to put the idea of becoming
a priest out of my mind, but it just
kept coming back. One thing I did
know however: Whatever happened, I
did not want to be in Earlsfort Terrace
the following year with most of my
class and me in black! So that ruled
out the Dublin Diocese. I stalled.
I needed a push from someone.
Strangely and wonderfully it came
from a Vincentian priest I knew, who
said: 'Why not join the Jesuits? They
are good men, and I think they would
suit you: I think he judged well.
Conor Donnelly, Opus Dei
Conor did all his schooling at
Gonzaga, which he left in 1971. He
joined Opus Dei in 1973. He studied
Charlie Davy, SJ medicine, and after his medical degree
was House Surgeon in St Vincent's
1967-69. He then attended University Hospital for a year. He then went to
College, Dublin and took his degree in Rome where he studied theology. After
Social Science in 1972. two years in Rome he went to Navarra
He did three years philosophy stu- University in Spain to continue his
dies in Paris 1972-75. Came back to theology studies. He completed his
Ireland for his regency years which he Doctorate in Theology at Navarra
spent in teaching at the Crescent University.
Comprehensive, Limerick 1977-80. He He was ordained at Torricidad,
did hi s theology studies at Milltown Spain and said his first public Mass at
Park, and was ordained priest in Mount Merrion church. He spent two
Gonzaga College chapel June 1980. years at H ume Street, and then trans-
His present work is Chaplain, Crescent ferred voluntarily to the Philippines.
Comprehensive Limerick. He is kept At present he is Director of dissemin-
busy ... there are 880 boys and girls in ation of Social Justice information.
the sc hool!
Charlie writes:
When I tell people I went to sc hool to
Gonzaga I sometimes see them nod
their heads, as much as to say, 'ah yes,
a Jes uit school; that ex plains why you
are a Jes uit: Is it true? It would be hard
to say. Even after eighteen years in the
Order I still find the decision to join
one of those unexplainable things in
one's life. It was such a leap in the
dark, or at least with not much more
than a glimmer of sunlight. Conor Donnelly
42
I struggled to put the idea of becoming
a priest out of my mind, but it just
kept coming back. One thing I did
know however: Whatever happened, I
did not want to be in Earlsfort Terrace
the following year with most of my
class and me in black! So that ruled
out the Dublin Diocese. I stalled.
I needed a push from someone.
Strangely and wonderfully it came
from a Vincentian priest I knew, who
said: 'Why not join the Jesuits? They
are good men, and I think they would
suit you: I think he judged well.
Conor Donnelly, Opus Dei
Conor did all his schooling at
Gonzaga, which he left in 1971. He
joined Opus Dei in 1973. He studied
Charlie Davy, SJ medicine, and after his medical degree
was House Surgeon in St Vincent's
1967-69. He then attended University Hospital for a year. He then went to
College, Dublin and took his degree in Rome where he studied theology. After
Social Science in 1972. two years in Rome he went to Navarra
He did three years philosophy stu- University in Spain to continue his
dies in Paris 1972-75. Came back to theology studies. He completed his
Ireland for his regency years which he Doctorate in Theology at Navarra
spent in teaching at the Crescent University.
Comprehensive, Limerick 1977-80. He He was ordained at Torricidad,
did hi s theology studies at Milltown Spain and said his first public Mass at
Park, and was ordained priest in Mount Merrion church. He spent two
Gonzaga College chapel June 1980. years at H ume Street, and then trans-
His present work is Chaplain, Crescent ferred voluntarily to the Philippines.
Comprehensive Limerick. He is kept At present he is Director of dissemin-
busy ... there are 880 boys and girls in ation of Social Justice information.
the sc hool!
Charlie writes:
When I tell people I went to sc hool to
Gonzaga I sometimes see them nod
their heads, as much as to say, 'ah yes,
a Jes uit school; that ex plains why you
are a Jes uit: Is it true? It would be hard
to say. Even after eighteen years in the
Order I still find the decision to join
one of those unexplainable things in
one's life. It was such a leap in the
dark, or at least with not much more
than a glimmer of sunlight. Conor Donnelly
42
