FR KIERAN McIVOR, CP

Born in Donegal on 9 November 1920, one of ten children, he entered the Passionist Order and was ordained in May 1947.  Shortly after ordination he was sent to Rome to study for his doctorate in Theology where Pope St John Paul II was his classmate.

After completion of his doctorate, he returned to Ireland for a few years and when Bishop Boyle of Johannesburg asked for the Passionists to come to SA, Fr Kieran was the first to arrive.   He was sent to Bank, a small place near Carletonville which had no electricity or running water.  He built the church in Carletonville and later the presbytery and hall.

He spent 27 years in Carletonville giving missions and retreats all over South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia and also lectured to Doctors and nurses on medical ethics.

In 1982 he was asked to head the marriage tribunal in Johannesburg and moved to Bryanston where he worked in the parish and at the same time ran the Tribunal at the Archdiocese till the age of 80 when he retired to KZN.   He was well loved and respected as an extremely gentle and compassionate priest.

Fr Kieran passed away peacefully on 9 August in KZN at the age of 93 and at his request, his Requiem Mass took place at Bryanston Parish which he always regarded as his home.

He promoted the prayer in honour of the 5 wounds, which is now quoted:

I kiss the wounds in Thy Sacred Hands

with sorrow deep and true.

May every touch of my hand today

Be a million of acts of love for You.

I kiss the wounds in Thy Sacred Feet with sorrow deep and true.

May every step that I take today

Be a million acts of love for You.

I kiss the wounds in Thy Sacred Face with sorrow deep and true.

May every word that I speak today

Be a million acts o love for You.

I kiss the wounds in Thy Sacred Head with sorrow deep and true.

May every thought of mine today

Be a million acts of love for You.

I kiss the wounds in Thy Sacred Heart with sorrow deep and true.

May every beat of my heart today

Be a million acts of love for You.