Rev. Patrick McHugh, first parish priest of St. Andrew's, Airdrie, died on the 1st May, 1958, in a Glasgow hospital.
He was born at Greenock on the 28th January, 1906, and attended St. Mary's school there. On the 12th August, 1920, he entered St. Mary's College, Blairs, to study for the priesthood, and, on the 6th September, 1924, he arrived at St. Peter's, Bearsden, to begin his philosophical and theological studies. In both colleges he was well liked by everyone because of his happy disposition and his excellence at all games. He was an outstanding athlete. On the Feast of St. John the Baptist, 24th June, 1930, he was ordained in St. Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow. Now his great energy and zeal was to be used for the salvation of souls.
His first parish was Our Lady of Good Aid, now the Cathedral, Motherwell. He worked hard, fulfilling all his priestly duties, and he was also chaplain to, the Boy Scouts. He always remembered them and it was no surprise when, years afterwards, he went with them on pilgrimage to Rome in the Holy Year, 1950. Other parishes where he laboured included Langloan, Kirkintilloch, where he was chaplain to the C.Y.M.S., St. Patrick's, Coatbridge, where he started a new branch of the C.Y.M.S., and lastly, St. Andrew's as parish priest. Here he worked hard, establishing a new parish, and the new church that he built will always be a memorial to him.
From 1939 to 1945, he was absent from the Archdiocese. At the very outbreak of war, he volunteered as a chaplain to the Army, and was accepted. The priestly work that he performed during those fateful years will never be known. He was in many theatres of war, and his great strength and cheerfulness helped many. His popularity was such, that everyone knew him as “Father Mac." He was Mentioned in Despatches.
The Bishop of Motherwell appointed him chaplain to the newly-formed Diocesan Council of the C.Y.M.S. All the experience he had gathered in dealing with men was now applied in lectures and meetings to make the Brothers of the C.Y.M.S. saintly and active Lay Apostles.
He had many grand qualities, but his greatest was his exact care and loyal love for his Master in the Holy Eucharist. Wherever he was, everything had to be as perfect as possible. "When he went up to the holy altar, he honoured the vesture of holiness." He will long be remembered by those who knew him. May he rest in peace. |
