Father Pat Courtney was born near Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland. 

He joined the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1960, and was ordained to the priesthood in December, 1966.  

He came to our parish in 2003 with much experience in a variety of ministries, which included:
Education in England and Ireland; Director for Formation of the MSC students in Ireland; Parish Ministry and Parish Priest in Liverpool; Member of Parish Mission Team; Superior and Bursar at Princethorpe College; Administration – member of Provincial Team;
For the ten years up to 2003, he was Deputy Provincial Superior, a position that took him on many trips overseas to South Africa, Venezuela, USA., England, and very recently to Russia, places where the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of the Province are engaged in ministry.

Fr. Pat has become very much a part of our Parish here in St Albans, and one of the highlights of his time here has been the Centenary Mass held on the 12th June 2005, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of our church in Beaconsfield Road.
In 2005, Fr. Pat leaves our parish to take up a new position as Provincial Leader of the MSC Ireland Province.

Good Luck Fr. Pat – we wish you well