On April 4, 2014, the Reverend Cornelius J. Goggin was called to his rest and to the glory of the Resurrection promised by the Lord. He was 82 years old.
Father Goggin was born on April 24, 1931 in Keene, New Hampshire and was ordained a priest on June 29, 1956 by the Most Rev. Armand Coupel, Bishop of St. Brieuc and Treguier at Saint Brieuc in France. Father Goggin studied at Holy Cross College, Worcester, MA and Catholic University of Angers and then he completed his ecclesiastical studies at the Grand Seminary of St. Brieuc, France.
Father Goggin was assigned as associate pastor of the following parishes: Our Lady of the Mountains Parish in North Conway; St. Mary Parish in Rochester; Sacred Heart Parish in Lebanon; St. Paul Parish in Franklin where he also subsequently served as Administrator. He also served as Temporary Administrator of St. Christopher Parish, Nashua.
Father Goggin was appointed pastor of St. Christopher Parish in Nashua and St. Elizabeth Parish in Bedford where he served until his retirement.
Among Father Goggin’s other assignments were Chaplain to Court St. Mary, CDA, Rochester; Moderator, NH Council of Catholic Nurses, Rochester; Director, CYO, Grafton Deanery; Chaplain Fr. A.J. Timon Council #2170, K of C, Franklin; Faithful Friar, Prince of Peace Assembly, 4th Degree K of C, Nashua; Chaplain, David E. Catania Council #4572, K of C, Nashua; Executive Committee of Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference for 10 years; and member of the School Board at Trinity High School.
During his retirement, Father Goggin remained actively engaged in parish ministry as long as his health permitted. He was in residence at Bishop Peterson Residence.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at St. Joseph Cathedral, 145 Lowell Street in Manchester. The Rite of Committal was celebrated later in the week at St. Joseph Cemetery in Keene, New Hampshire. Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, Manchester, New Hampshire had care of the arrangements.
With faith and hope in eternal life, let us commend our brother to the love and mercy of God and assist him with our prayers. The statutes of the Diocese of Manchester request that we offer three Masses for the repose of his soul. If you would like to send a sympathy card or note to the family, please send it to the following address:
Ms. Dolores De Mello, 17 Howard Avenue, Northfield, NH 03276.
In lieu of flowers, donations may also be made to the Bishop Peterson Residence Generator Fund, 221 Orange St., Manchester, NH 03104