Garrahy, Rev Michael
REV. MICHAEL GARRAHY
May 2, 2015
Personal Info
- Date of Birth: 14 September 1925
- Place of Birth in Ireland: Ennistymon
- County: Clare
- Major Seminary: St Patrick Seminary, Carlow
- Date of Ordination: 3 June 1951
- Place of Ordination: St Patrick Seminary, Carlow
Diocesan Appointments:
- Assistant – St Patrick, Wichita – 10/26/1951 to 11/4/1954
- Assistant – Holy Name, Winfield – 11/5/1954 to 4/16/1958
- Assistant – Mary Queen of Angels, Fort Scott – 4/17/1958 to 5/15/1959
- Pastor – St Rose, Wellington – 5/16/1959 to 5/30/1963
- Pastor – Holy Name, Winfield – 5/31/1963 to 7/1/1967
- Pastor – St Anthony, Wellington – 7/1/1967 to 6/19/1985
- Chaplain – Bishop Hennessy Council Knights of Columbus, Wichita – 9/1/1967
- Chaplain – Wellington Council Knights of Columbus, Wellington – 9/9/1968 to 6/19/1985
- Chancery – Presbyteral Council Member, Wichita – 2/1/1980 to 1988
- Chancery – College of Consultors Member, Wichita – 2/1/1980 to 1988
- Pastor – St Michael the Archangel, Mulvane – 6/20/1985 to 6/29/1995
- Chaplain – Villa Maria Nursing Home, Mulvane – 6/20/1985 to 6/29/1995
Father Garrahy, along with 32 other junior priests of the Wichita Diocese were required to participate in annual clergy exams on areas of morality, dogma, scripture, canon law, church history and liturgy. The junior priests’ knowledge about each subject was examined by senior priests and lasted all day.
Four nurses who graduated from the School of Nursing of St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin and who were recruited under the sponsorship of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother came to Wichita to start their professional careers at St Francis Hospital in 1956. Father Garrahy, along with five other Irish priests met the nurses at the Wichita Municipal Airport as part of an official city welcoming committee.
Father Garrahy served the Wichita Diocese for 64 years. In talking about Father Garrahy, Monsignor Gilsenan was quoted in The Catholic Advance as saying “The Irish priests used to meet at his place in Wellington when he was there. We would play golf and have a big meal and play cards into the late afternoon, he was a great host.” Monsignor Gilsenan, also a native of County Cork Ireland, went on to describe Father Garrahy as a bright, diligent priest who gave good homilies. He was not a flashy person, not someone who wanted to draw a lot of attention to himself, he was a very modest person.”
- Date of Death: 2 May 2015
- Place of Death: Priest Retirement Center, Wichita, KS
- Age of Death: 89
- Burial: Grounds of Ennistymon Parish Church, County Clare, Ireland