Message From the Pastor

I was born in Dublin, Ireland. I went to the local parish elementary school and a Catholic high school. I entered seminary in Carlow, Ireland, in 1978. From 1982 to 1984 I taught at Cardinal Newman HS in Santa Rosa before returning to Ireland to finish seminary.I was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Santa Rosa in my home parish by Bishop Mark Hurley on June 26, 1986.

My first priestly assignment was at St. Bernard HS in Eureka. I then became associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Parish, Napa, from 1988 to 1991, before going to Boston College for my M.Ed. After some time in diocesan adult education work, I joined the faculty of Justin-Siena HS full-time as teacher, chaplain and counselor and was in residence here at St. Apollinaris 1994-2000.

In 2000 I went to Rome to study canon law, returning to Sonoma County in 2002. Since then I have worked in the diocesan tribunal in Santa Rosa and in parishes in Sonoma County (except for two years in England helping my sister care for our mother before her death in 2015).While Pastor of St. Apollinaris, I will continue to serve as Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Santa Rosa on a part-time basis.

For relaxation, I enjoy reading, travel and photography.