Fr Johnny Doherty celebrates Golden Jubilee

Fr Johnny Doherty pictured during his ordination with his parents and siblings.

A Mass of Thanksgiving will be held in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Carndonagh this evening at 7pm.

Fr Johnny is a Redemptorist priest who is based in Clonard Monastery, Belfast. He is a member of the Parish Mission Team in Clonard and is part of a team training Parish Pastoral Councils in the Derry Diocese.

He is also the founder of the Movement of Continuous Prayer for Marriage and Family Life.

Fr Doherty’s ordination in September 1966 brought great delight to the town of Carndonagh.

The Derry Journal archives of 23rd September 1966 told of how the newly-ordained priest was escorted into the town which was “lavishly decorated” with flags and bunting. Scrolls of welcome also “spanned the streets” and bonfires blazed and the ‘Journal’ noted how the gathering at his home on Bridge Street was one of the largest Carndonagh had ever seen.

Fr Doherty was ordained to the priesthood by Most Rev. Dr Browne, Bishop of Galway. A former pupil of St Patrick’s Boys’ School in Carndonagh, he studied at the Redemptorist College in Limerick and spent a further year at the Redemptorist Novitate, Galway. He was pictured in the ‘Journal’ following his prdination with his parents. Mr and Mrs Michael Doherty, Bridge Street and his siblings.