Fr. Padraig died peacefully at the MSC Community Residence, Carrignavar, Cork recently. He was in his 98 year. His passing brought a flood of tributes to a truly remarkable man who devoted his long life to his vocation.

Fr. Padraig was born in Kilcummin, Co. Kerry to Patrick and Mary Fleming. He was one of 8 children – two girls and six boys. Two of his brothers also entered the MSC priesthood. Fr. Bill resides in Carrignavar, and Fr. John Kevin resides at Western Road, Cork. One sister joined the Mercy Order, and the other joined the Ladies of Mary, whilst his other two brothers became farmers.

He joined the priesthood with the intentions of going on the foreign missions, but on the occasion of the 70^th anniversary of his ordination he said that “the good Lord decreed otherwise”. He ended up with a very distinguished career as teacher, dean, lecturer, bursar, superior, farm manager, vocations director, and founding father of both the Sacred Heart College at Carrignavar, Cork, and the MSC House of Studies at Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

During his lifetime, 20 young men from Kilcummin parish joined the priesthood with 8 of these joining the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. The current MSC provincial, Fr. Pat Courtney is from the parish.

When retired at Carrignavar he used to drive into Sunday’s Well in Cork city to celebrate Sunday morning Mass for the residents of St. Albert’s Retirement Home. He continued to do this until just a year before his death – remarkable dedication from a remarkable man.

May he rest with the Sacred Heart and Our Lady.