Callaghan: Patrick Callaghan

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Ex- priest and Holy Ghost Father – priest with order known as Congregation of the Holy Ghost, or Spiritans – initials CSSp behind name.  Ordained 1982.  2005 charged – sex assault allegations of 17-year-old boy relate to 1985 when Callaghan was teaching at an Francis Liberman High School in Toronto.  Outcome of charges unknown.

Callaghan also served as a missionary in Papua New Guinea and as a chaplain at Francis Lieberman High School. Prior to ordination he worked at the St. John Bosco Home for Boys in both Orillia and Barrie, Ontario.

Spent time in Southdown, Ontario.

(Both Callagahn and Father Patrick Slaney were in seminary together at St. Mary’s Seminary in Norwalk, Connecticut.  St. Mary’s, more commonly known as “Fernwood” because of the abundance of ferns growing on the property, was run by the Spiritans/Holy Ghost Fathers.)

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February 1998: “Prison is Where I Want to Be” (Spiritan Missionary News)

June 1993:  Spiritan Missionary News Vol 117 No 2 June 1993

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The following information is drawn from Canadian Catholic Church Directories (CCCD) which I have on hand, media (M) and  personal information (P)

2010:  not listed in directory  (CCCD)

2005:  Charged.  Media lists him as an ex-priest living in Kingston, Ontario (M)

2002, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996: P.O. Box 3009, Brighton, Ontario (in Peterborough Diocese) (CCCD)  (Callaghan was serving as chaplain at Warkworth penitentiary for a number of years.  This seems to have been his address during those years)

1995, 1994: address in index listed as 131 Victoria Park Ave., Toronto (This is beside Neil McNeil High School [127 Victoria Park Ave.], a Catholic Secondary School run by the Spiritan Fathers.  (CCCD)

1993:  Pastor,  Sacred Heart Parish, Sioux Lookout, Ontario (parish run by the Spirtans in the Diocese of Thunder Bay, Ontario)  (CCCD)

September 1992:   Pastor,  Sacred Heart Parish, Sioux Lookout, Ontario with mission in Hudson, Ontario (CCCD)

1992, 1991:  address 200 Morrish Rd., West Hill, Ontario =Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Toronto, Ontario (Pastor Father Michael Gerard Scott)  (Archdiocese of Toronto)  (CCCD)

1985:  teaching at Francis Liberman High School in Toronto, Ontario (M)

charges relate to this year while Father Callaghan was teaching at Francis Liberman (M)

1985-86:  not listed in directory (CCCD)

1982:  ORDAINED

prior to ordination worked at the St. John Bosco Home for Boys in Orillia, Ontario, and prior to that at the the St. John Bosco Home for Boys in Barrie, Ontario.  He left the home in Orillia to pursue ordination with Spiritans/Holy Ghost Fathers

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Former priest charged with assault on student

The Toronto Star

03 November 2005

A former Toronto priest has been charged in connection with a 1985 sexual assault on a former student.

The alleged incident took place while the accused was a teacher at Francis Libermann High School in Scarborough, police said. The victim was 17 at the time.

Patrick Callaghan, 58, of Kingston, was charged Monday with one count of sexual assault. He is scheduled to appear in court in December.

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Former priest charged with sex assault: Kingston man was teacher in Toronto

Kingston Whig Standard

02 November 2005

TORONTO – A former Catholic high school teacher and priest who worked in Toronto has been charged with sexual assault after an alleged incident 20 years ago.

Patrick Callaghan, 58, of Kingston was arrested and charged Monday with one count of sexual assault.

Toronto police say they laid the charge after a man came forward last month, complaining he’d been sexually assaulted in 1985 at his home.

The victim was 17 years old at the time of the alleged assault.

Police say the incident took place after the teen and his family were befriended by a priest and teacher who worked at an east-end Toronto high school.

Callaghan is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 20.

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Former T.O. priest charged with sexual assault

CTV Ottawa

Updated: Tue Nov. 01 2005 3:46:57 PM

Canadian Press

TORONTO — A former Catholic high school teacher and priest who worked in Toronto has been charged with sexual assault after an alleged incident 20 years ago.

Toronto police say they laid the charge after a man came forward last month, complaining he had been sexually assaulted in 1985 at his home.

The victim was 17 years old at the time of the alleged assault.

Police say the incident took place after the teen and his family were befriended by a priest and teacher that worked at an east-end Toronto high school.

Patrick Callaghan of Kingston, Ont., was arrested and charged Monday with one count of sexual assault.

The 58-year-old is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 20.

5 Responses to Callaghan: Patrick Callaghan

  1. Annonymous says:

    Is a picture of Fater Pat Callaghan available and is he a brother to Tom Callaghan from Kingston ?Last I heard Tom’s widow and children lived in Calgary.A.B.prior to Tom’s death in around 2006.He was a friend of my late husband from seminary days.and was Buried from St.Patricks Parish in Toronto.His wife came from Belvue,(SP?)Ont.

  2. Annonymous says:

    I knew Pat very well, I was at the John Boscoe home for Boys in Barrie when he was the Director, and later left to begin studies to enter the seminary. He was an usher in my wedding, as I considered him a great friend who helped me through my difficult teenage years. I travelled with him to Conneticut whilst he was training to become a priest in the Holy Ghost Congregation. I was proud to be at his ordination and remained close to him whilst he was away in papua new guinie, later onto Warkworth Pen. He was there to administer last rites for my Mother only days before her passing.

    I am shocked and saddened by this article, and Pat has chosen to retire. I would love to hear from him if anyone can shed light into where he is now?

  3. Anonymous says:

    I was assaulted by Patrick Callaghan when I was a young adult. The Spiritan Leader, Patrick Fitzpatrick offered to settle for $30,000 and therapy. When the agreement was signed Patrick Fitzpatrick said “Don’t call me Father”, they did not take responsibility at the end of the day! I told Cardinal Collins, He never replied. I’m so very upset still! In my opinion that was not enough money, for what happened to me!

    • Anonymous says:

      Pat Callaghan was extremely close to my ex-husband. I knew there was something “off” about the man but I never suspected him of being a sexual abuser. I learned many years after we split up that he had actually abused my ex-husband. You need to receive some semblance of justice in this matter. In light of all the clerical abuse that’s being revealed right now, Catholics are fed up and demanding a big mopping up of bad priests and bishops, and justice and help for victims. The time is ripe. Approach the Spiritans and Cardinal Collins again. If you’re still not satisfied with their responses, you might want to tell your story to the media. I’m so sorry you’ve had to endure this. I wish there was something I could do to help.

    • Joe says:

      Archbishop Ambrocic was in charge of Toronto, and at the time said this isn’t our responsibility, it’s the Holy Ghost Fathers, He said this through Father Cluff, it was years later I sent a letter to Cardinal Collins, voicing my concerns and pointed out how upset I was they removed themselves from responsibility and allowed Me to be treated that way!

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