We invite readers to send short stories about the ways in which their lives have been personally blessed by the life and work of priests and religious in our diocese.

By Karina Fabian

Those familiar with the interregnum years of the diocese will also be familiar with Father John Darragh, who served as administrator of the diocese between bishops. It was a position he was pleased to fill, yet he was equally pleased when a new bishop was chosen and he could return to the parish work he loves.

Father Darragh was born in 1942, the youngest of three children. He attended St. Lawrence Grade School in Butte, then went to the Christian Brothers high school, attended Carroll College and St. Thomas Seminary, and got a master’s in religious education. He was ordained in 1968 at St. Anne’s in Butte.

Each assignment, he said, was a learning experience and a bridge to the next wonderful challenge. His first assignment was at St Joseph Parish in Libby, where he had also served during his diaconate. At his next assignment, St. Joseph Parish in Anaconda (1970-1977), he had the sad duty of closing the school and consolidating the parish. Nonetheless, he said, there was always a strong faith community in that area and he has been pleased to see “new life, like a phoenix, rise from the ashes” there.

His time at John XXIII Parish in Missoula (1977-1984) taught him important lessons in ecumenicalism, as they had to share facilities with a Lutheran Congregation. “We all had to be patient in this ecumenical venture,” he remembered fondly.

His next 16 years were spent as pastor and rector of the Cathedral in Helena. He called that time “vital, wonderful years. We confronted a lot of issues of a growing parish, from finances to renovation needs, but the key was always the wonderful parish and staff in action, reaching out in ministries that were challenging and very beneficial to the community.”

From 1992 to 2000, he used all he’d learned with the parishes for the benefit of the diocese as a whole. He served both as vicar general and as the diocesan administrator for the times between Bishop Curtiss and Bishop Brunett, and Bishop Brunett and Bishop Morlino. He also served on the Carroll College Board of Trustees and as the interregnum chancellor of the college.

He said it was a terrific experience and an incredible chance to see the entire diocese – from small farm communities and reservation ministries to large city parishes. “I saw the sincerity of the ministers and the beauty of the people. It allowed me to get a panoramic vision of the diocese. One can be very shortsighted about what goes on in the diocese, and I had an opportunity to see the diocese in action – its strengths and its weaknesses,” he said.

Nevertheless, he added, “I’m a parish priest and I yearned to get back to parish work.”

He got his chance in 2000, when he was assigned as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Hamilton and Philip Benizi Mission in Darby. “It’s a delightful assignment that allows me to again find great fulfillment in ministry and working with the people,” he said.


Published in the Montana Catholic, Vol. 22, No. 1, January 20, 2006.