We announce the sad news of the death, on Sunday 20th March, of Fr Kevin McDevitt, peacefully in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, Co Offaly, Ireland.
Fr Kevin was born on 8th September 1943 and ordained for the priesthood as a member of the Society of Mary – the Marists – in Dublin on 20th December 1969. In February 1987 he was incardinated in the Diocese of Westminster and retired to live in Ireland in 2014.
Condolences are extended to Fr Kevin's family, friends and colleagues and to his former parishioners in parishes where he served as a priest as a Marist and in the Diocese of Westminster.
Obituary
Kevin McDevitt was born in Faughanvale, Co. Derry on 8th September 1943. He had six brothers and two sisters, born to his parents Rose and James McDevitt. His secondary school education was with the Christian Brothers in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford from 1955 to 1959. He then went to college at St Mary’s, Dundalk in Co. Louth until 1962 before entering the Marist Novitiate in Dublin from 1962 to 63. An older brother, Vincent, had already joined the Holy Ghost Fathers. From 1964 to 65 Kevin studied philosophy at University College Dublin and then theology at the Marist House of Studies, Mount St Mary’s, Milltown in Dublin. He was ordained to the priesthood on 20th December 1969 at Clonliffe College by John Charles McQuade, Archbishop of Dublin.
Fr Kevin McDevitt SM was appointed school chaplain in Dundrum, Dublin where he also taught Religious Education, from 1970 to 1974. He was then appointed to serve the parish of St Joseph, Blantyre, Glasgow where he gained much pastoral experience while supporting the life and work of the parish. His next appointment was to London, as a member of the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain, based at St Mellitus parish, Tollington Park from 1976 to 1982. He saw himself as a missionary priest, ministering where the Lord had sent him. During Lent 1982 he transferred to the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Acton where he served as Assistant Priest having completed his work with the Irish Chaplaincy. He had considered applying for incardination in Dublin and also San Antonio, Texas where he spent four months in 1982. But he found happiness in the Diocese of Westminster and sought incardination, having ministered in the Diocese for ten years. With the blessing of his Marist superiors he applied and was accepted. ‘Naturally, we regret his departure, and I’m sure Kevin will prove to be a very good and zealous priest,’ wrote the Marist Provincial Superior in support of Fr Kevin’s request. On 6th February 1987 Fr Kevin was formally incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Westminster in a simple ceremony at Archbishop’s House, followed by afternoon tea hosted by Cardinal Basil Hume OSB.
In 1987 Fr Kevin was appointed Assistant Priest at Sacred Heart parish, Berkhamsted with special responsibility for the Hemel Hempstead West area of Gadebridge and Warners End. His ministry included chaplaincy to John F Kennedy Secondary School in Hemel. He described schools as a particular type of parish and he saw the need for neighbouring schools to work together for the good of the students. In a letter to Cardinal Hume, in November 1988, he wrote, ‘You rightly mentioned that no Catholic school can act in isolation as we are part of each other.’ The following year he was appointed Priest in Charge at Hemel Hempstead West and then, in 1991, he was appointed Parish Priest of Hatfield. In 1997 he moved from Hatfield to take up his appointment as Parish Priest of the Church of the Transfiguration, Kensal Rise until 2003. During this time he was asked to take a seminarian on pastoral placement. Fr Kevin was expecting a deacon, and said to the seminarian, ‘You’re not a deacon, what good is that? I thought you were a deacon but you’re a student, a student – a kind of non-person!’ The student was not a golfer, and put down by Fr Kevin as ‘one of those modern priests who go to the theatre and restaurants’. But the student and Fr Kevin developed a good and lasting rapport. In 2004 Fr Kevin was appointed Parish Priest of St Gabriel’s, Archway. He was kept busy with parish work, and in local hospitals and schools. He developed a particular apostolate to the homeless and excluded, to those with mental health issues and addictions. In February 2010 he wrote to the Archbishop, Vincent Nichols, explaining his need to stand down from the Pontifical Mission Societies, Missio, and his work with the Holy Childhood – children helping children – and the APF Red Boxes. He had been involved with this work for twenty years. Having celebrated his 40th anniversary of ordination, and aged 67, it was time to hand on this work to a younger priest. Fr Kevin enjoyed the celebrations marking his anniversary, when parishioners at Archway organized a surprise Mass and party. He was much pleased by the appearance of his five brothers and two sisters who arrived just minutes before the start of Mass. Ten years later, his Golden Jubilee of ordination was celebrated in Blackwater, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford in January 2020 with the local community and friends who travelled from London.
Fr Kevin left Archway and returned to Ireland in the autumn of 2014 to retire. He went to live in the Curate’s house in Blackwater. There he received support from the Secular Clergy Common Fund and the Westminster Sick and Retired Priests Fund. He appreciated the welcome he received from Bishop Denis Brennan and local clergy. He helped out in the local parish, celebrating Mass and hearing Confessions and with pastoral ministry. In a letter to Cardinal Vincent Nichols in December 2015 Fr Kevin wrote that he was grateful to have the opportunity of more time for prayer and reflection, and to visit family and friends – and to enjoy golf! He wrote about missing the golfing fraternity that was an important part of his life while in Westminster. Playing golf with priests of the Diocese of Ferns brought much joy, as did the annual competition with Westminster Diocese. Throughout his life he followed the Gaelic games of hurling and football, rejoicing in the successes of Donegal and other northern teams.
Fr Kevin was popular in the parishes where he served and formed many lasting friendships. He embraced life and people, and was not slow in expressing his opinions. At times he could be argumentative, displaying some rough edges, but not far beneath the surface was a kind and generous heart. He cared for and about people who were poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged. In 2020 on a visit to London Fr Kevin was given a warm reception at the St Gabriel’s Community Centre in Archway. Among the guests were people who had been homeless and helped by Fr Kevin to find accommodation, and members of the Chinese Catholic community who were given a place to meet by Fr Kevin when he was Parish Priest. Throughout his ministry he was committed to the work of education and supported staff and students of the schools in his various parishes. In children he saw hope for the future.
Towards the end of 2020 Fr Kevin had become unwell and needed surgery and treatment. After some respite his health deteriorated. The last few months of Fr Kevin’s life were spent in Kilbeggan, in a house he had built adjacent to the home of his sister. His health had declined rapidly. He died peacefully on Sunday 20th March 2022 in the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. A few days earlier Cardinal Vincent phoned and spoke with Fr Kevin who was by now very frail. The call gave Fr Kevin encouragement as he bore his suffering while preparing himself for God’s call. In a message to the congregation at the Funeral Mass on 22nd March the Cardinal’s words were read by Fr Sean Carroll, ‘…I extend to Fr Kevin’s family and friends my condolences and the assurance of my prayers for the repose of his soul, that he may rest in peace and rise in glory. I express to them, and to all who are here in Kilbeggan, my appreciation for the priestly ministry of Fr Kevin in the Diocese of Westminster and elsewhere. We give thanks to God for calling Fr Kevin to serve the Church as a priest, and we give thanks to Fr Kevin for fifty-two years of priestly ministry, celebrating the Sacraments of the Church and bringing to those in his care the compassion and mercy of God. May he receive the reward of his labours and be embraced in the loving arms of Jesus whom he knew, loved and served.’
Fr Kevin’s Funeral Mass took place on 22nd March 2022 at St James’ Church, Kilbeggan Co. Westmeath with his brother, Fr Vincent McDevitt CSSp presiding, followed by burial at Castletown Geoghegan Cemetery.
There will be a Memorial Mass at St Gabriel’s, Archway on Saturday 23rd April at 12noon and a Month’s Mind Mass at St James’, Kilbeggan Co. Westmeath on Sunday 1st May at 11am.
We pray for the repose of Fr Kevin's soul:
Almighty and eternal God,
hear our prayers for your son Fr Kevin
whom you have called from this world to yourself.
Grant him light, happiness and peace.
Let him pass in safety through the gates of death, and live for ever with all your saints in the light you promised to Abraham and to all his descendants in faith.
Guard him from all harm
and on that great day of resurrection and reward raise him up with all your saints.
Pardon his sins and give him eternal life in your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
