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We were deeply saddened by the news that our good
friend and brother, Rev. Michael Gaughran, SSC, passed away around 4:00 AM on
the morning of Good Shepherd Sunday, April 13, 2008, at the age of 72. The
Marian Movement of Priests has lost one of its great apostles of these last
times.
After a successful career as a civil lawyer in his native England, Fr. Gaughran
entered the Society of St. Columban. Following his ordination to the priesthood,
he was assigned by his superiors to the Mother House in Rome where he served in
an official capacity. He was later involved in parish ministry for several
years.
After having been named by Fr. Gobbi as National Director of the Marian Movement
of Priests in England, he received permission from his Superior General to work
full time for Our Lady’s Movement. Since Fr. Gobbi’s already full schedule did
not allow him to include many countries in his itineraries, Fr. Gaughran
accepted to go in his stead. During the past several years, he had conducted
cenacles in many English-speaking nations around the world, especially in Asia
and Africa. He also was instrumental in organizing the Marian Movement of
Priests in Russia. Fr. Gobbi later appointed him to oversee all of the MMP
centers in the English-speaking countries of the world.
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Each year at the International Retreats in San
Marino and Collevalenza, Fr. Gaughran gave four conferences on the spirituality
of the Marian Movement of Priests. In 1998 and 2001, he was retreat master at
two week-long clergy retreats for MMP priests in Effingham, Illinois. Those in
attendance were awed by his zeal and tremendous insights into the messages of
Our Lady. In 2001 he also made a guest appearance on EWTN’s Mother Angelica
Live.
Fr. Gaughran was a good priest in every sense of the word, having devoted
himself entirely to the spreading of Our Lady’s message. He accomplished his
mission with great devotion and fidelity, no matter what the circumstances. We
always knew him to be a cheerful and obedient servant who went wherever Our Lady
called him. We were deeply touched by the intimate relationship he had with her,
as was evidenced by the closing to all his letters and emails - “In Mama’s
Heart.”
May Our Lady present him to her Son Jesus as a very dear son of hers. May the
Lord grant him eternal rest!
He will be greatly missed by all who have known him. Please keep his relatives
and friends in your prayers, especially Fr. Gobbi and all the priests of the
Marian Movement of Priests for whom this is a great loss.
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