Fr Fonsie Doran: Esker Community

Fr Fonsie Doran

“I was born 6th December 1931 in my grandparents’ home in Hospital, Co. Limerick. There were twelve children, six boys and six girls in our family. Our family home was built in the early 1800’s. It had a farm of thirty Irish acres. During the troubles, it was a hide-out for the IRA.

My schooling was with the Presentation Sisters and the De La Salle Brothers. The priesthood and religious life vocation was highly cherished by my parents. There were seven priests and seven sisters among the uncles, aunts, grand-uncles and grand-aunts. I had no memory of my eldest sister who left for the missions in Burma when I was two.

Three things influenced my joining the Redemptorist Congregation.

1. A parish mission preached by Frs. Peter Burke and George Lucas in Hospital.

2. A school retreat preached by Fr. Leo O'Halloran from Hospital.

3. The Redemptorist Record, (now Reality) of which my sister was a promoter.

I applied for admission and was accepted as a Brother candidate in April, 1949. There followed eleven months as a postulant in Galway and one year as a novice in Limerick. My companions were John Long, Clement Clifford and Tommy Farrell. They became life-long friends.

My first appointment was to Esker. I remember arriving on a Saturday and I attended the Perpetual Novena devotions from the organ loft. The Church was packed and I felt as if I was in heaven. During my time in Esker I worked in the dining room, the dairy, the sacristy and mostly in the kitchen. I have happy memories of working with Brother Gussie Forrie (Senan) and I learned a lot about cooking, preserving, and washing pots and pans”.

Fr. Fonsie Doran was transferred to our Galway Community in 1953. There he takes up his story:

“I was transferred to Galway and remained there until 1962 (except for the year 1955, when I was in our college in Limerick). My job was that of porter, procurator, guest-master and infirmarian. In 1962 I was moved to Esker and my job was the same.

The desire to be a priest was in my mind as long as I can remember. During my novitiate I spoke of this to my confessor and novice master. I was told that if I wanted to follow that call I would have to leave the Redemptorists. I decided to stay but over the years between 1951 and 1964 the question surfaced again and again. Vatican 11 came to my rescue and in 1965 I was given the green light from my spiritual director and major superior: I received approval to study for the priesthood. I was transferred to our new house of studies in Dublin and from there I did a refresher course in English and Latin at the C.B.S. Synge Street. Then I went to the House of Studies at Hawkstone in England where I continued my studies for the priesthood. August 1968 saw me back in our house in Dublin. Studies continued there and also at Kimmage (a Holy Spirit College) and Milltown (a Jesuit College). I was ordained in Kimmage on 13th June 1971. It was the first time that my family were together. Three of my sisters returned from the missions in India, Thailand and Tahiti. It was a great week.

In January 1972 I was appointed to the mission team in Esker. In 1979 I had a free year in San Francisco and on return I was appointed to Dundalk as assistant novice master and missioner. From 1983 - 1990 I was on the mission team in Limerick and also chaplain to our college there (St. Clement's) from 1986-1990.

Finally, I was appointed to the Nigerian Mission in 1990 and during my time there I was associate pastor, superior and pastor, director of students, leader of the mission team, superior of the house of formation and director of the Retreat House. Now, 2008, a new chapter opens for me in Esker”.

A question occupying the minds of some local people now is: “Will Fr. Fonsie revive the Donkey Derby in Esker?”

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Fr Johnny Doherty

Fr. Michael Cusack, Vicar

Fr. Fonsie Doran, Consultor

Fr. Jimmy Buckley,

Fr. Mike Heagney,

Fr. Tony Flannery,

Br. James Casey

Fr. Pat Egan - working in Knock

Br. Tom Farrell

Fr. Peter Flannery