Manchester remembers much loved Kerry Priest

On Friday 25th June Bishop Terence Brain the Bishop of Salford, priests and people of the diocese and members of the Keane family celebrated a special diocesan Requiem Mass for the Kerry born, Fr. Pat Keane at St. Bernard’s, Burnage, in Manchester.

Fr. Keane was first ordained a priest in 1960, his first parish was St. Edmund’s Little Hulton, then he joined the Catholic Missionary Society. On his return to the Salford diocese Fr. Keane was made a curate at St. Edmund’s Miles Platting before becoming a Parish Priest at St. John’s Burnley and finally he joined St. Bernard’s Burnage in 1989. Fr. Keane retired home to County Kerry, in Ireland in 2008, he died on the 24th April 2010 and was buried from St. John’s church in his home village of Ballybunion. Close to nearly 2,000 people attended the funeral of the much loved Priest in Ireland and a further 1,000 of his own Parishioners in Burnage attended an identical service on the same day.

St Bernard's new Parish Priest Fr Steven Parkinson said "Fr Keane had hoped to celebrate his golden jubilee this year, but had to retire early due to ill health. He was devoted to his parish and well loved by his parishioners. This special Mass in June was organised by the Bishop and concelebrated by fifty seven of his fellow clergy. It was attended by close to a 1,000 people that included his parishioners from the various parishes where he had served and his brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces from Ireland also attended the special service. It was an opportunity for those who were not able to travel to the funeral in Ireland to pray for Fr. Keane and give thanks to God for his sharing in the priesthood of Christ. Fr. Keane’s niece, Anne-Marie spoke in thanks of the bishop and the parish of St. Bernard’s Burnage and shared some memories of her uncle Pat, not least of which was his love of the Mass."