Dublin Province – Ireland

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He was born in Skerries, County Dublin on February 1, 1946, the older of two children, son of Seán O Keeffe and Eileen O Connell.

He attended St. Mary’s Christian Brothers’ School in Youghal, County Cork for his primary education.

From 1959 to 1963 he studied at Redemptorist College, Limerick, the juvenate of the Dublin Province at that time.

He made his novitiate in Esker, County Galway in 1963-64, professing vows for the first time on September 15, 1964.

He attended University College Galway from 1964 to 1967 and Cluain Mhuire, the Redemptorist Studendate in Galway, from 1964 to 1968

He did his theological studies at Marianella Dublin and at the Kimmage Missionary Institute from 1968 to 1974.  This included MICE, a missionary immersion and community experience in Miracema do Norte, Tocantins, Brazil.

He was ordained to the priesthood on June 17, 1973 at Castlelyons, County Cork.

From 1974 to 1976 he worked first in the Marianella Pastoral Center and then in St Clement’s College Limerick.  From 1976 to 1984 he worked in Belfast, first in Clonard, then at St Clement’s Retreat Center.

From 1984 to 1991 he was a member of the provincial team, a member of the formation team and did courses at the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

From 1991 to 1996 he was curate in a parish in a deprived, developing district of Dublin, in a community that at times numbered 5 Redemptorists working in neighboring parishes.

From 1996 to 2000 he worked with an ecumenical community, CORRYMEELA, dedicated to reconciliation and peace-building, centered in Northern Ireland.

In 2001 he was appointed Treasurer General of the Congregation.