Father Liam Pentony of Ireland, passes at age 94

February 9, 2023

Rev. Liam Pentony, PE entered eternal life on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at Silver Stream Nursing Home in Duleek, Co. Meath, Ireland. Father Pentony was 94 years old and celebrated 67 years in priestly life.

Born on November 25, 1928 in Brittas, Dunleer Co. Louth, Ireland, Father Pentony enrolled at St. Mary’s School in Knockbeg and then St. Patrick’s College in Carlow. He was ordained for the Diocese of Jackson (nee Natchez) after completing his seminary studies on June 5, 1955.

Arriving in the diocese on October 5, 1955, when the Diocese of Jackson was known as the Diocese of Natchez, Father Pentony was assigned to St. Paul’s Church in Vicksburg by Bishop R.O. Gerow. In 1958, he served as an assistant in Clarksdale at St. Elizabeth parish.

Moving south, Father Pentony was assigned as pastor of St. Joseph parish in Woodville on July 1, 1964. After spending three years in Woodville, Father Pentony was then assigned as pastor of St. Peter parish in Grenada in 1967 by Bishop Joseph Brunini.

In 1969, he was assigned as pastor of St. Therese parish in Jackson for six months before his assignment at St. Joseph parish in Moss Point on July, 1, 1969, only a month and a half before Hurricane Camile struck causing immense damage to the coastal region of the state.

After three and a half years in Moss Point, Father Pentony was assigned as pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Laurel on January 15, 1973. While in Laurel, the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson was divided, with the southern counties being reorganized as the Diocese of Biloxi in March of 1977.

After serving in Laurel, in 1981 Father Pentony was assigned to Sacred Heart parish in Hattiesburg, serving until he was moved from the Diocese of Biloxi to the Diocese of Jackson in 1982.

Father Pentony was then appointed administrator for St. James parish in Tupelo on January 14, 1983 and then incardinated and appointed as pastor in September of 1984 by Bishop William Houck.

From Tupelo, Father Pentony was assigned as pastor of St. Francis parish in Brookhaven for a period of nine years before retiring from the Diocese of Jackson and moving to Ireland in 2001, where he served in the parish of Darver and Dromiskin for another sixteen years.

Wake service will be held at McGeough's Funeral Home Jocelyn Street, Dundalk (A91WX66) from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11. A Funeral Mass will be held on Sunday morning at 11:15 a.m. in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Tenure. Burial will be afterwards in Monasterboice Cemetery. The Mass can be viewed online at https://www.churchservices.tv/monasterboice.

Eternal rest grant unto him. O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.