November 5: Father Michael O’Malley


November 5, 2005

Father Michael O’Malley

Father O’Malley was born on October 2, 1924 in Crossmolina, County Mayo, Ireland. After attending St. Peter Seminary in Wexford, Ireland, he was ordained for the Diocese of Wichita on June 8, 1952 by Most Reverend James Staunton, Bishop of Ferns. Fr. O’Malley was an assistant in Coffeyville and at All Saints Parish in Wichita. As pastor he served at St. Philip Parish, Franklin with St. Alice Parish, Capaldo, as a mission; St. Ignatius Parish, Neodesha; Sacred Heart Parish, Halstead; St. John Parish, Iola; and St. Barbara Parish, Chicopee, along with St. Anastasia Parish, Cherokee. His last two assignments were as administrator at Mother of God Parish, Oswego with Sacred Heart Parish, Chetopa, and in 1989 at Sacred Heart Parish, Caney, for a brief time after which he retired to Crossmolina, Ireland. On November 5, 2005 Father O’Malley died and Bishop Emeritus Eugene J. Gerber represented the Diocese of Wichita at his funeral at St. Tiernans Church in Crossmolina, Ireland. Bishop Michael Jackels celebrated a Memorial Mass for Father O’Malley at St. Elizabeth Chapel at the Catholic Care Center in Wichita on November 9, 2005.