Lecturer in Systematic Theology
St. Patrick's College, Maynooth
Fr. Neil Xavier O'Donoghue, Ph.D.
Bio
Fr. Neil Xavier O’Donoghue is originally from Ballincollig, Co. Cork, Ireland. He was formed for the priesthood in Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Kearny, NJ. In the year 2000 he was ordained to the ministerial priesthood for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. After Ordination, he served as an associate in Our Lady Queen of Peace, Maywood for two years, and, from 2002 to 2013, as Prefect of Studies at Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Kearny, NJ. In 2013 he returned to his native Ireland on loan to the Archdiocese of Armagh where he helped establish the new in Redemptoris Mater Seminary located in Dundalk, Co. Louth, where he served as Vice Rector (during that time he also ministered in Holy Redeemer Parish, Dundalk and in various parishes in South Armagh). In 2018 he took up a new assignment as a Lecturer of Systematic Theology at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare and on weekends he often celebrates Mass in Ballincollig Parish, Co. Cork. He is the author of St. Patrick His Confession and Other Works (Totowa, NJ, 2009), The Eucharist in Pre-Norman Ireland (Notre Dame, IN, 2011), Liturgical Orientation: The Position of the President at the Eucharist (Norwich, 2017) and editor of the Third Edition of Fredrick Edward Warren, The Liturgy and Ritual of the Celtic Church (Piscataway, NJ, 2010). He has published articles appearing in various theological journals, magazines and books. Since 2012 he has written a monthly column on the theology of the Holy Father in the Messenger of St. Anthony and he is a regular contributor to the PrayTell liturgical blog hosted by St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, MN.
Education
1997 Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a major in Religious Studies and a minor in Latin from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ.
2000 Master in Divinity (M.Div.) in Pastoral Ministry from Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology in Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ. Thesis Title: On Fostering a More Active Participation in the Holy Eucharist.
2003 Masters of Theology (M.Th.) in Liturgy from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, NY. Thesis Title: Eucharistic Spirituality in Pre-Norman Ireland.
2005 Master of Arts (M.A.) in Theology with a concentration in Liturgical Studies in the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Notre Dame, IN.
2006 Doctorate in Theology (Ph.D.) specializing in Liturgy in St. Patrick’s College, Pontifical University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland. Thesis Title: The Eucharist in Pre-Norman Ireland: Liturgy, Practice, and Society.
Ecclesiastical Assignments
June 2019-June 2020: member of the Advisory Committee for Liturgical Prayers in English for the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
September 2018 – September 2021: Lecturer in Systematic Theology at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
September 2016 – June 2018: Weekend Assistant, St. Patrick’s Parish, Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh.
July 2014 – June 2018: Vice Rector, Redemptoris Mater Seminary, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Archdiocese of Armagh.
August 2013 – September 2016: Curate, Holy Redeemer Parish, Ard Easmuinn, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
June 2013 – June 2014: Prefect of Studies, Redemptoris Mater House of Formation, Archdiocese of Armagh.
March 2006 — June 2014: Member of the Liturgical Commission of the Archdiocese of Newark.
June 2004 – October 2006: Further studies at St. Patrick’s Royal Catholic College, Pontifical University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
June 2002 – June 2013: Prefect of Studies, Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary, 672 Passaic Ave., Kearny, NJ 07032.
June 2000 – June 2002: Parochial Vicar, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, 400 Maywood Ave., Maywood, NJ 07607.