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 () (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 founded in Ireland in 1917 and approved by the Holy See in 19 ...

, 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 roa ...

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

St Jarlath's College St Jarlath's College () is a Catholic co-educational secondary school 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 Tua ...

, Tuam, and

St Patrick's College, Maynooth St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth (), is a pontifical Catholic university in the town of Maynooth near Dublin, Ireland Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mou ...

. His sister was Bridget Rice. 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 (), 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 aim of establishing an ind ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, 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 Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, alongside the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by decision of the president of the United States to "any person recommended to the President ...

, 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