PP Sean Rogan marks 50th anniversary

PP Sean Rogan marks 50th anniversary

6 June 2012

CANON Sean Rogan is celebrating half a century in the priesthood.

Having entered religious life at the age of 17, he celebrated his first mass after ordination at St. Joseph’s Parish in Killough, and it was to the seaside village he returned on Monday for a special 50th anniversary mass.

Killough is also family territory for Canon Rogan, who often speaks fondly about his early years growing in the village.

Having tragically lost his mother at the age of three, and losing his north Belfast home in the Belfast Blitz, he was brought up by his aunt in Killough.

And it was during his

formative years in Killough that he felt inspired to join the priesthood.

Beginning his training in 1956, Canon Rogan’s long career incorporated parishes in Belfast, Saintfield and Downpatrick, Antrim and Larne in his earlier years, before becoming Parish Priest in Coleraine in 1990, Parish Priest in Lisburn, and finally Parish Priest in St. Patrick’s, Downpatrick in 2005. Two years later he was appointed Canon.

As well as attending his own ‘golden jubilee’ celebrations, Canon Rogan attended a celebratory service for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on Saturday at Down Cathedral at the invitation of Dean Henry Hull.

Canon Rogan shared the personal significance of the Queen’s anointing with oil at the coronation service, and was congratulated on his 50 years of service.