Father Terence Beagon

Father Terence Beagon, SPS

Father Terence Beagon was born on 22nd November 1926 in St. Paul’s Parish Belfast. He was educated in St. Paul’s Primary School and then in St. Malachy’s College. He joined St. Patrick’s Missionary Society (SPS also known as the Kiltegan Fathers) in 1944 and was ordained on Palm Sunday in 1951. Later that year he was sent to Ogoja Diocese, eastern Nigeria which is largely equatorial forest and very difficult terrain. He served there until 1994. His work was primary evangelization, building and establishing the Church along the Cross River, and building the first primary schools there. That same area now produces the highest number of graduates in the whole of Nigeria that has a population of 140 million. In 1994 he came to serve in St. Oliver Plunkett Parish until his death on Wednesday 23rd May 2007.

Fr Beagon enjoyed visitation and was a frequent visitor to homes in the part of the parish in his care with a particular devotion to the sick and dying. Since his illness before Christmas, he has been greatly missed by those who went to him for Confession. During his time, in the parish, he left a deep impression on us by his faith, his love of the Eucharist and his devotional way of celebrating the Mass. Many of us have been fascinated by his stories of his 40 years on the Missions. He is remembered for his humility, his humour and his deep love of the parish community where he spent the last 13 years of his life. His life and ministry was guided by the motto of St Patrick’s Missionary Society: “the love of Christ urges us on” (2 Corinthians 5: 14).

May he rest in Peace