WELL known local priest
Fr William Rafferty passed away peacefully yesterday
at his home in Moville after a long illness.
The 89-year old was known to everyone as Fr Bill
Raff. Born on May 3, 1920 in Kilrea, Co Derry, he
was educated at Swatragh Primary School and St.
Columb’s College Derry. He then moved to St.
Patrick’s College, Maynooth and was ordained as
priest for the Derry Diocese on June17, 1945. After
ordination he went, on loan, for two years to
Salford Diocese in Manchester. On return he served
as curate for one year in Greencastle and Rouskey,
Co Tyrone. In 1949, he served for a brief period as
chaplain to the Nazareth House, Derry, before
becoming curate in Moville where he served for ten
years. In 1959, he was appointed as curate to Long
Tower, Derry, and in 1974 was appointed
administrator at Long Tower - a position he held for
two years.
He was appointed as the first parish priest of the
then new parish of Urney and Castlefin in 1976. On
retiring as parish priest in 1995, he served for a
number of years as curate in Lifford until poor
health forced him to retire altogether from parish
work. Following his retirement, he moved to Moville
where he remained until his death yesterday morning.
"Despite poor health and total loss of sight, he had
many visitors calling for advice and guidance on
spiritual matters," said St Eugene's Cathedral
administrator Fr Michael Canny.
"Throughout his life as a priest, he was very active
in the Charismatic Renewal Movement and other prayer
groups in the diocese. May he rest in peace," added
Fr Canny, Bishop Seamus Hegarty's spokesperson.
Fr Rafferty’s remains will leave his home in Moville
today, Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at 4pm and will be
taken to St Columb’s Church, Doneyloop, Castlefin,
for 12 midday Requiem Mass on Wednesday. |
