Father Stephen’s Last Day At St. Pat's Nearing

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Rev. Stephen Donnelly’s last day at St. Patrick’s Church in Huntington village is Wednesday.

By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com

As Rev. Stephen Donnelly’s time with St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Huntington village comes to a close, locals plan to gather Sunday to send him off.

After serving seven years as associate pastor, Donnelly’s last day with St. Patrick’s is Wednesday. He will move to Maria Regina Roman Catholic Church in Seaford that same day.

“As someone who’s been living in the community for seven years, I have found the Huntington community nothing but outstanding,” Donnelly, 62, said. “The life that is here in Huntington and the people, not just the people of the parish, the town’s people have been nothing but so gracious towards me.”

A farewell Mass will be held Sunday, 11:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s. It will be followed by a reception for the parishioners. From 6-8 p.m., rain or shine, a thank you gathering with Donnelly will be held at Finley’s (43 Green St., Huntington). All are welcome.

Donnelly said Bishop John Barres, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, will ordain five priests this Saturday at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre. He will assign each priest to a new parish, including St. Patrick’s, after the Mass.

For the new priest coming to the parish, Donnelly said it’s important to be humble, to be a priest of love and compassion and to be there for the people of God.

“As a priest, we’re there for very wonderful moments, we’re there when new life comes in and we’re there when life ends and everything in between,” Donnelly said. “I think what the people of St. Patrick’s Church are looking for is somebody who has an ear, who will listen and has a presence. The man who is replacing me is coming into a great situation.”

In addition to his pastoral work, Donnelly has distinguished himself in the service of those struggling with addiction. Calling on his personal experience of 15 years in recovery, Donnelly’s mission is to bring aid to those in need as an active speaker at community forums and working with several drug-awareness organizations.

In 2016, Donnelly was awarded the “Fisher of Men Award” from Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence.

Living as a Huntington resident for the past seven years, Donnelly will move to Seaford to start his new journey with the parish.

Donnelly said he’s looking forward to Sunday’s celebration and anticipates tears from himself and others.

“I will miss the people of Huntington tremendously and I thank God for the seven years I’ve been here,” he said. “It has been a gift beyond belief and I will always remember my time here in Huntington as a very special time.”