McGovern, Rev Andrew

REV. ANDREW MCGOVERN

January 15, 2002

Personal Info 

  • Date of Birth: 29 August 1927
  • Place of Birth in Ireland: Bundarra, Carrigallen
  • County: Leitrim
  • Education: St Peter’s College, Wexford
  • Date of Ordination: 7 June 1953
  • Place of Ordination: St Peter’s College, Wexford
  • Ordained by: Most Rev. James Staunton, Bishop of Ferns

Diocesan Appointments

  • Assistant – St Rose of Lima, Great Bend – 10/20/1953
  • Assistant – St Joseph, Ellinwood – 11/11/1953 to 1/10/1957
  • Pastor – Sts Peter and Paul, North Kinsley and Holy Rosary, Burdett – 1/11/1957 to 1962
  • Pastor – St John, Kiowa – 1962 to 10/15/1965
  • Pastor – St Joseph, Beaver – 1965 to 1970
  • Pastor – Sacred Heart, Larned and Chaplain, St Joseph Memorial Hospital – 1970 to 1979
  • Pastor – St John, St John and St Francis Xavier, Seward – 1979 to 1991
  • Chancery – Diocesan Director for the Propagation of Faith – 1980 to 1996
  • Pastor – Immaculate Conception, Claflin; Holy Family, Odin; St Joseph, Beaver and St Catherine, Dubuque – 1991 to 1993
  • Pastor – St John, St John – 1993 to 1996

Father McGovern, along with Frs Thomas McManus, Owen Kenny, Ultan Murphy,

Thomas Kirby, John Kavanaugh and Thomas McGread arrived in Wichita by plane in October. Four of the priests remained in Wichita and three were transferred to the new diocese in Dodge City. Diocesan assignments were made by the priests, drawing in alphabetical order, a diocese name out of a hat.

When asked about his selection to Dodge City, Father McGovern recalled that “Bishop Carroll saw us to the car and wished us well. He said he was sending us to ‘Wyatt Earp’ as that is how he referred to Bishop Franz. When we got to Dodge City there was blowing dirt and dust and we thought what have we got ourselves in to! We had dinner with Bishop Franz before going to our individual parishes that evening.”

Father McGovern received word about the death of his father, Patrick McGovern, in Ireland. He was 60 years old and the father of seven sons and two daughters. Father McGovern, the eldest of the nine children was able to arrange plane passage to Ireland so he could be the celebrant for his father’s funeral Mass.

Forty-two aliens became citizens of the United States in naturalization ceremonies held at North High School in Wichita on 13 January 1959. Father Andrew McGovern, being a new citizen was presented with an American flag and a citizenship manual by a representative of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

  • Date of Death: 16 January 2002
  • Place of Death: Via Christi St Francis Hospital, Wichita
  • Age of Death: 74
  • Funeral Celebrant: Most Rev. Ronald Gilmore, Bishop of Dodge City at St Elizabeth Chapel, Catholic Care Center, Wichita
  • Burial: St Joseph Church Cemetery, Aughavas, Carrigallen, County Leitrim, Ireland

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