PRIESTS OF OUR PARISH

The following priests have served in our parish over the last fifty-three years. A brief biography of each priest is given. We as a parish are eternally grateful for the hard-work and dedication they gave to the parish during their time with us. 

PARISH PRIESTS

1. Very Rev. John Canon Page (1956 - 1973)    

John Page was born in Dundee on 25th August 1913. He studied for the priesthood at St. Mary's College, Blairs and the College of Propaganda, Rome. He was ordained priest in Rome on 19th March 1938. His first appointment as curate was to St. John the Baptist's, Perth, where he served for two years. In  1940 he was appointed to St. Mary's Forebank, Dundee, however his stay at Forebank was interrupted in 1944, when he offered his services as an army chaplain. He returned to Forebank in 1947 to serve as curate for a further year, before moving to the Cathedral to serve as senior curate to Bishop James Donald Scanlan, who was coadjutor to the ailing Bishop Toner. In 1949, Father Page was given his first parish, St. Serf's in Highvalleyfield, where he remained until 1952 when he moved to St. Thomas of Canterbury in Arbroath. In 1956, Bishop William Andrew Hart entrusted Father Page with establishing the new parish of St. Clement's in Dundee. He was elevated to the Cathedral Chapter of Canons in 1971.  Canon Page died after suffering a major heart-attack on 4th October 1973, at the age of 60.

2. Very Rev. Augustine Canon Klein (1973 - 1981)  

Augustine Klein was born in the Bavarian village of Schraudenbach on 27th July 1914. He was educated at the Benedictine School, Muensterschwarzach. He fled Germany and came to Britain and after a chance meeting with Bishop James Donald Scanlan, he was sent to St. Edmund's College, Ware to study for the priesthood. He was  ordained priest in Dundee on 4th June 1955, and his first appointment was as curate at St. Patrick's, Dundee where he stayed until 1960. His next appointment was to St. Joseph's, Dundee where he served for two years before moving to become chaplain to the Little Sisters of the Poor at Wellburn. In 1964 he was appointed Parish Priest of St. Fergus', Forfar, before being appointed Administrator of St. Andrew's Cathedral in 1971. Following the death of Canon Page in 1973, Canon Klein was appointed to succeed him as Parish Priest of St. Clement's. In 1981, Canon Klein moved to St. Teresa of Avila, Dundee where he served until his retirement in 1986, when he moved to the care of the Sisters at Wellburn. He died on 15 December 2000, at the age of 86.

3. Very Rev. John Joseph Canon Connolly (1981 - 1993)

John Connolly was born in Kilkenny, Ireland in 1926. He studied for the priesthood at St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny and was ordained priest for service in the diocese of Dunkeld in St. Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny on 8th June 1952. His first appointment was as curate at St. Andrew's Cathedral, Dundee, where he stayed for four years, before moving to St. Joseph's, Dundee. In 1960, he was appointed to Our Lady of Lourdes, Perth. He moved across the Tay in 1962, becoming Parish Priest of St. Fillan's, Newport-on-Tay. After four years in Fife, he moved back to Dundee becoming Parish Priest of St. Leonard's, where he oversaw the building of the new church, which was opened in 1975. In 1981, he moved to St. Clement's, and whilst here he was elevated to the Chapter of Canons in 1983, becoming Provost of the Chapter in 1997. After twelve years in St. Clement's, Canon Jock was appointed to St. Teresa of Avila, Dundee, where he remained until he retired in September 2005. 

4. Very Rev. Ian Canon Mullen (1993 - 2005)

Ian Mullen was born in Dundee in 1954, a son of the parish, he attended St. Clement's Primary. He studied for the priesthood at St. Vincent's College, Langbank, St. Mary's College, Blairs and Royal Scots College, Valladolid. He was ordained by Bishop William Andrew Hart in St. Andrew's Cathedral, Dundee on 8th July 1978, and was appointed curate at St. Pius X, Dundee. After three years, he was on the move to the Fair City of Perth, as assistant priest at St. John the Baptist's. In 1986, he received his first parish when he was appointed Parish Priest of St. Anne's, Carnoustie, where he remained for three years. He moved to St. Fergus', Forfar, where he stayed until 1993, when he was appointed Parish Priest of St. Clement's. He was appointed Parish Priest of St. Stephen's, Blairgowrie in September 2005. In May 2008, he was made a member of the Cathedral Chapter of Canons.   

5. Very Rev. Kenneth Canon McBride (2005 - 2007)

Kenneth McBride was born in Dundee on 12th November 1938. After attending St. Joseph's Primary and Lawside Academy, he began his studies for the priesthood at St. Mary's College, Blairs. In 1955, he was sent to the Royal Scots College, Valladolid, and in 1961 he was sent to the Pontifical Scots College, Rome. He was ordained priest by Bishop William Andrew Hart on 29th June 1962 in St. Andrew's Cathedral, Dundee. After returning to Rome for further studies, he was appointed to St. John's, Perth as curate in 1963. He was appointed Parish Priest of St. Fillan's, Newport-on-Tay in 1976. His stay in Fife lasted five years, when he was appointed Parish Priest of St. Pius X, Dundee in 1981. In 1990 he was appointed Administrator of St. Andrew's Cathedral and Chaplain to Catholic students at Dundee University. Whilst at the Cathedral, Father Ken was elevated to the Chapter of Canons in 1993. After eleven years at the Cathedral, Canon Ken was appointed Parish Priest of St. Ninian's, Dundee, and in September 2005, following the "Duc In Altum" process, he was also appointed Parish Priest of St. Clement's. He currently serves on the College of Consultors to Bishop Vincent and is the Diocesan Director of On-Going Priestly Formation.  He is also the Diocesan Spiritual Director to the SVDP.  

In 2007, the care of the parish was entrusted to the Little Flower Congregation or CST Fathers. 

6. Rev. John Mundackal, C.S.T. (2007 - )

Father John is a member of the Little Flower Congregation or CST Fathers. He was ordained priest on 22nd December 1970, and worked in Northern India from 1976 onwards, except for the period he spent studying and serving in Germany and Dundee from 1985- 1992. Upon his return to India, he was appointed rector of the Little Flower College (seminary) in the Punjab. From there he was promoted to Regional Superior, and after his term of office was completed, he spent some time as manager of the Sacred Heart Convent school in Sri Gangangar (Rajasthan) until he was elected Provincial Superior in 2003. During his term as Provincial he was based at the Provincial House in Hanamangarb and was responsible for 48 priests, 120 sisters, 75 seminarians and 33 stations. It was during his time as Provincial that Father John offered the services of the CST Fathers to Bishop Logan.

 ASSISTANT PRIESTS

1. Rev. Ernest Andrew (1956 - 1960)

Ernest Andrew was born in Aberdeen in 1921. He was educated at St. Mary's College. Blairs and St. Peter's College, Glasgow. He was ordained priest in the Chapel at Blairs on 29th June 1946. His first appointment was as assistant at the Cathedral, Dundee, where he stayed  for three years before moving to St. Mungo's, Alloa. In 1956 he was appointed assistant to Father Page in the newly established parish of St. Clement's, Dundee. He moved to St. John's, Perth in 1960, and was given his first parish in 1962, when he was appointed Parish Priest of Holy Cross, Strathtay. In 1965 he was made Parish Priest of St. Bernadette's, Tullibody, where he stayed for nine years, before moving to Our Lady of Lourdes, Perth, where he remained until his death on 1st August 1992 at the age of 71.

2. Rev. Patrick McSorely (1960 - 1962)

Patrick McSorely was born and educated in Ireland. He was ordained priest in Dublin for service in the Diocese of Galloway in 1960. Due to the large number of priests in Galloway at the time, he was loaned to the Diocese of Dunkeld, where he served as assistant priest in St. Clement's from 1960 - 1962, when he returned to Galloway. He is currently Parish Priest of St. Quivox, Prestwick. In 2008 he was made a member of the Cathedral Chapter of Canons in the diocese of Galloway.

3. Rev. Charles Adamson (1962 - 1972)

Charles Adamson was born in Tillicoultry in 1938. He studied for the priesthood at St. Mary's College, Blairs and Royal Scots College, Valladolid. He was ordained priest in the College Chapel, Valladolid by Bishop James Black of Paisley on 29th April 1962. His first appointment upon returning to Scotland was as assistant priest here in St. Clement's, where he stayed for ten years, when he was appointed assistant priest at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Broughty Ferry. In 1973, the Servite Friars gave over the running of Our Lady of Sorrows, Dundee to the diocese and Father Adamson was appointed Parish Priest. In 1981, Bishop Vincent moved him to Holy Family, Dunblane, where he was to stay for seven years, before moving to St. John's, Perth. In 1992, he was appointed Parish Priest of St. Teresa of Avila, Dundee, but his stay here only lasted a year, before he moved across the Tay to succeed the late Father Hugh Campbell as Parish Priest of St. Fillan's, Newport-on-Tay. His stay in Newport was cut short however when he fell ill, and died on 25th August 1994, at the relatively young age of 56.

4. Rev. Patrick J. McInally (1972 - 1978)

Patrick McInally was born in Montrose in 1947. He studied for the priesthood at St. Mary's College, Blairs and Royal Scots College, Valladolid. He was ordained priest in St. Andrew's Cathedral, Dundee on 8th July 1972 by Bishop William Andrew Hart. His first appointment was as assistant priest here in St. Clement's, after six years he moved to St. John's, Perth. In 1981 he was appointed Parish Priest of St. Stephen's, Blairgowrie, where he remained until 1988, when he went to St. Patrick's College, Carlow to undertake further studies. He returned to the diocese the following year when he was appointed Parish Priest of Our Lady of Sorrows, Dundee. In 1993, he was appointed Parish Priest of St. Matthew's, Dundee in addition to Our Lady's. Following the retiral of Canon James Malaney in 1997, he was appointed to his present parish, St. Columba's Cupar and St. Matthew's, Auchtermuchty. He was made a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter in March 2006 and is also one of the Trustees of the Diocese of Dunkeld.

 5. Rev. John Harty (1978 - 1981)

John Harty was born in Glasgow in 1950. He attended Lawside RC Academy, Dundee before beginning his studies for the priesthood at St. Vincent's College, Langbank. He then attended St. Mary's College, Blairs followed by the Royal Scots College, Valladolid. He was ordained priest in Perth by Bishop William Andrew Hart in 1975. His first appointment was as assistant priest at St. Pius X, Dundee, where he stayed for two years when he was moved to St. Ninian's, Dundee. In 1978, he moved  to St. Clement's, where he served for three years, before being appointed to St. Leonard's and St. Fergus', Dundee. After a year in St. Leonard's, he was given his first parish when he was appointed Parish Priest of St. Margaret's, Montrose. In 1990 he returned to St. Leonard's and St. Fergus', but this time as Parish Priest, and with St. Columba's added too. After twelve years, he made another return journey, this time to St. Pius X, where he became Parish Priest. In 2005, he was also appointed Parish Priest of Our Lady of Sorrows, Dundee. He was made a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter in March 2006.

6. Rev. Jacob Edakalathur, C.S.T. (2006 - 2009)

Father Jacob was born on 4th July 1956 and is a member of the Little Flower Congregation. He was ordained priest on 28th December 1984 for the Khrist Jyoti Province in Punjab/Rajasthan. Before coming to St. Clement's, Father Jacob was manager and parish priest of Sacred Heart, Fasilka, Punjab. Prior to this he had been Provincial Procurator (in charge of finances), for a double term of six years, at the same time he also served as Principal of the Sacred Heart School in Malout, Punjab. In June 2009, Father Jacob left Dundee to take up a new appointment as Manager of the Bikaner Boys School in Rajasthan.

7. Rev. Rogi Thomas Narithookil, C.S.T. (2008 - )

Father Rogi comes to St. Clement's after teaching Philosophy at the Little Flower Seminary in Aluva, Kerala. In September 2009, he will begin his studies at the University of Dundee for his Ph.D.