By Communications Department - Archdiocese of Miami
Photographer: FILE PHOTO
Father Michael Hourigan: Born March 23, 1941, Limerick, Ireland - Died April 30, 2012, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Father Hourigan, who turned 71 on March 23, was a native of Limerick, Ireland who had served in the Archdiocese of Miami since his ordination in 1966. He served as administrator and then pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Sunrise from 1972 to 2010, when he was appointed pastor of St. Paul the Apostle.
�Always very gracious, very inviting, very hospitable,� said Father Michael �Happy� Hoyer, pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish in Plantation, who had dinner with Father Hourigan about a week before his death.
Father Hoyer said whenever Father Hourigan was in the neighborhood he would make it a point to stop by, say hello, and if possible share a meal with his fellow priests.
�Irish hospitality for sure,� Father Hoyer said.
He added that Father Hourigan also was �very good with the bereaved. He took the time to meet with the family and find out about the deceased and incorporate that in his homily.�
One of eight children born to the late James and Mona Hourigan, Father Hourigan studied for the priesthood at St. Patrick College, Maynooth, and St. Kieran�s College, Kilkenny, and was ordained June 5, 1966 at St. Mary Cathedral in Kilkenny. A few months later, he began his ministry in South Florida, serving as associate pastor at St. Rose of Lima, Miami Shores, St. Gregory, Plantation, and St. Timothy, Miami, before being appointed to St. Bernard in September 1972. He remained there until October 2010, when he became pastor of St. Paul the Apostle.
In addition to his parish work, he served as moderator of the North Broward Deanery of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women since 1985; as member of the archdiocese�s Presbyteral Council since 2001; as dean of the Northwest Broward Deanery and member of the first archdiocesan Synod.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial for Father Hourigan on Friday, May 4, at 10 a.m., at St. Paul the Apostle, 2700 N.E. 36 St., Lighthouse Point. The viewing will begin Thursday, May 3, at 6 p.m. at the church and continue until Friday at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery in North Lauderdale.
Father Hourigan was predeceased by one brother, Richard Hourigan, and three sisters, Anne Hartigan, Katherine O'Dwyer, and Judy Hourigan. He is survived by a brother, Paddy Hourigan, and his wife Anne; sisters Mary O�Brien and husband James, Monica Hourigan, and Dolores Hogan and husband Sean; sister-in-law Nora Hourigan and brother-in-law Dennis Hartigan; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
In addition to his parish work, he served as moderator of the North Broward Deanery of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women since 1985; as member of the archdiocese�s Presbyteral Council since 2001; as dean of the Northwest Broward Deanery and member of the first archdiocesan Synod.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial for Father Hourigan on Friday, May 4, at 10 a.m., at St. Paul the Apostle, 2700 N.E. 36 St., Lighthouse Point. The viewing will begin Thursday, May 3, at 6 p.m. at the church and continue until Friday at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery in North Lauderdale.
Father Hourigan was predeceased by one brother, Richard Hourigan, and three sisters, Anne Hartigan, Katherine O'Dwyer, and Judy Hourigan. He is survived by a brother, Paddy Hourigan, and his wife Anne; sisters Mary O�Brien and husband James, Monica Hourigan, and Dolores Hogan and husband Sean; sister-in-law Nora Hourigan and brother-in-law Dennis Hartigan; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
This article has been updated since it was originally published.
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