Snippets about Religion in St Johnston and Carrigans
Father Thomas Slevin was Parish Priest of St Johnston and died on September 30 1917.
Canon Daniel McGinley was ordained in 1891. He was Parish Priest of St Johnston and died in 29 October 1937.
Father James McDaid was Parish Priest of St Johnston and died on 18 June 1943. He was ordained in 1903.
Father James Haughey served in the parish in 1937 and thereabouts.
Canon (Archdeacon) John Deeney was ordained in 1909 and was Parish Priest of St Johnston. He died on 1 June 1966.
Columban Missionary, Father Oliver McCrossan from the Main Street, St Johnston, was ordained in 1975.
Reverend Vincent McDevitt CSSp was ordained in 1968 and is based in Dublin. In 1997, he was ministering in Clondalkin, Dublin.
His brother Reverend Kevin McDevitt from Carrigans was ordained in 1969 was is based in England. In 1997, he was in Herts, England.
In 1997, the Roman Catholic population of the St Johnston Parish which comprised Taughboyne, All Saints and Killea was 1,202 making about 340 families. This does not include Newtowncunningham.
Roman Catholic baptismal records go back as far as 1843.
Roman Catholic confirmation records go back to 1849.
Roman Catholic marriage records go back to 1858.
Roman Catholic death register goes back to 1951 when the new cemetery, the cemetery behind St Baithin's Church, was created.
There used to be a path from the Church to where the shelter is now for outdoor masses. It had steps and big gates with a silver colour were positioned where the shelter is. The gates disappeared with the renovations of the Church in the early eighties and a new gate was opened at the side.
A number of people from the parish went to see Pope John Paul II at Knock on September 30 1979. Seven local people comprising people who were ill and who suffered from disabilities also went and special facilities were provided for them and had to be arranged beforehand. Some travelled with Andy Boyce who drove a mini-bus.
Joseph O Donnell and Niall Coll, both from the town of St Johnston were ordained to the priesthood in St Eunan's Cathedral, Letterkenny on Sunday 3 July 1988. Bishop Seamus Hegarty officiated and Doctor Cunnea was parish priest of St Johnston and the time. A get-together was held in St Baithin's School, St Johnston, to mark the occasion.