Happy Birthday Father Toomey!
Touchie’s Shamrock Pub was the backdrop for Father Kevin Toomey’s 60th Birthday and Bill “Touchie” McDonough hosted a full house for the celebration. Fr. Toomey was assigned to Gate of Heaven Parishin 1978 and stayed till1985. And by the crowd in attendence at his party, he is loved and missed.
Everyone shared stories about the guest of honor including ones like Fr. Toomey stopping the Sunday 5 o’clock Mass to tell the teenagers standing in the back of the church to “please move right up here to the front,” and his strict no-nonsense policy towards gum chewing in the gym.
What brings you back to Southie? I am back at Gatey for baptisms, weddings and funerals. I am frequently asked to do these, and I am always honored!
What do you miss about Southie? The people. I have lifelong friends from Southie and I also miss the amazing ‘community feeling’ Southie has. People sincerely care about each other.
Fr. Toomey is now the pastor at Saint Raphael Parish in Medford. He has been a priest for 33 years.
