Rev. Michael Guinan

Rev. Michael Guinan Obituary

Rev. Michael Guinan, 88, died on Saturday, November 21, 2015, in Great Falls. He served as a priest of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings for 62 years. Visitation was held at O’Connor Funeral Home, 2425 8th Ave. North, Great Falls, on Friday, November 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., as well as at St. Ann’s for one hour before the Vigil. The Vigil was held at St. Ann Cathedral on Friday, November 27, at 7:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial was on Saturday morning, November 28, at 10:00 a.m., also at St. Ann Cathedral. Burial took place immediately after the Mass in Mount Olivet Cemetery. O’Connor Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Father Guinan was raised in County Tipperary, Ireland, where he received his vocation to the priesthood. He studied at St. Patrick Seminary College in Thurles, Ireland, and was ordained as a priest on June 14, 1953, along with two other priests assigned to the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, Father Patrick Tarrant and Father Joseph McDermott.

He came to Montana and was assigned to serve as an associate priest in Sidney for two years. He served as an assistant at St. Patrick Church in Billings in 1955. In 1956 he was assigned as administrator of Sacred Heart Church in Terry, and as pastor of St. Joan of Arc Church in Ekalaka in 1957. In 1959 he was assigned as administrator of St. Philip Church in Wibaux and served there for nine years.

In 1968 he was assigned as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Wolf Point, where he served for six years. During his tenure as pastor of Immaculate Conception, Father Guinan was awarded honorary membership in the Sioux and Assiniboine Tribes and vested with the headdress, moccasins and beaded insignia for his dedicated service and friendship for all the people of the Fort Peck Reservation.

In 1974 he was assigned to serve as pastor of St. Mary Church in Livingston until 1978, when he was granted a sabbatical year for continued education. He returned to ministry in 1979 and was assigned as pastor of St. Anthony Church in Laurel, the same year that he was appointed as a diocesan Consultor. Father Guinan, the newly appointed pastor of the Laurel parish, was very enthused by the idea of a team approach to marriage preparation. He was part of the first Engaged Encounter to be held in Montana that took place at St. Anthony’s Parish Center in Laurel in November 1976. For the next 25 years Father Guinan and his teams presented weekend Encounters in Billings and Great Falls.

In 1985 he returned to St. Mary Church in Livingston as pastor. In 1987 he was assigned as rector of St. Ann Cathedral; he served there for seven years until his retirement in 1994.

Father Guinan was active in the following diocesan organizations: Priests’ Council, College of Consultors, Clergy Personnel Board, Clerical Benefit Association, Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Council of Catholic Women, and the Legion of Mary.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Laurence and Mary Bridget, his brothers, Frank, Geoff, Kevin, and his sisters, Mai Kinsella, Rita Walsh and Sister Lawrence (Sister of St. Joseph of Peace). He is survived by a sister, Kathleen Cleary, and a brother, Paddy, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Martin de Porres Mission, P O Box 141, Great Falls, MT 59403, or the Clerical Benefit Association (priests’ pension fund), P O Box 1399, Great Falls, MT 59403.

Condolences may be shared with the family on-line at OConnorFuneralHome.com.