John Heneghan (21 December 1881 – 10 February 1945) was an Irish priest, editor, and a member of the

Maynooth Mission to China The Missionary Society of St. Columban ( la, Societas Sancti Columbani pro Missionibus ad Exteros) (abbreviated as S.S.C.M.E. or SSC), commonly known as the Columbans, is a missionary Catholic society of apostolic life of Pontifical Right foun ...

, who was murdered by the Japanese forces in the Battle of Manila in 1945. Heneghan was born in

Louisburgh, County Mayo Louisburgh () is a small town on the southwest corner of Clew Bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It is home to Sancta Maria College and the Gráinne O'Malley Interpretive Centre. Transport Road access Louisburgh is located on the R335 regional ro ...

, Ireland, in 1882, the son of Walter Heneghan. He was educated at

St Jarlath's College St Jarlath's College () is a Catholic secondary school for young men in Tuam, County Galway. The college was founded in 1800 and in 2009 absorbed St. Patrick's College, Tuam. The College, which operates under patronage of the Archbishop of Tuam, ...

, Tuam, and St Patrick's College, Maynooth. His sister was

Bridget Rice Bridget Mary Rice (; 7 May 1885 – 9 December 1967) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. She was born on 7 May 1885 in Louisburgh, County Mayo to Walter Heneghan and Bridget McGreal. Her brother John Heneghan was a Columban priest. A postmi ...

. He was ordained in Maynooth, in June 1909, by the Archbishop of Dublin, William Walsh. During Easter Week 1916, he heard the confessions of Tuam Volunteers on their way to Athenry to joining the

Easter Rising The Easter Rising ( ga, Éirí Amach na Cásca), also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week in April 1916. The Rising was launched by Irish republicans against British rule in Ireland with the a ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, he was the superior of the Maynooth missionaries in the Philippines.

Death

On 10 February 1945, he was removed from Manila together with three other Columban priests, and killed by Japanese forces. In February 1997, there was a monument erected in front of the Malate Church, in the memory of Heneghan, Fallon, Kelly, and Monaghan; his nephew and namesake, Monsignor John Heneghan of California attended the unveiling. There is a remembrance bench in the Mayo Peace park dedicated to Heneghan. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian decoration which the U.S can give to non-U.S. nationals, along with his confreres Fr. Kelly and Lawlor.Fr Patrick Kelly SSC
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Publications

* ''White Martyrdom'' by The Rev. John Heneghan, Published by St. Columban's, Milton, Massachusetts (1946) * ''The Secret Scripture of the Poor'' by Rev. John Heneghan, Published by Clonmore and Reynolds, Ltd., Dublin (1951) * ''Father Damien Exemplar of Noble Deeds'' by Rev. John Heneghan, Published by Clonmore and Reynolds, Ltd., Dublin (1954)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heneghan, John 1881 births 1945 deaths Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth Irish Roman Catholic missionaries 20th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests Kidnappings in the Philippines Missionary Society of St. Columban People educated at St Jarlath's College Christian clergy from County Mayo People murdered in the Philippines Irish civilians killed in World War II People from Louisburgh, County Mayo