THE unexpected death has occurred of Fr Bernard Jones, a well-known member of the Franciscan Order, who spent a number of years based in the friary in Killarney.
He passed away, suddenly, on his way to hospital in his native Cork on Thursday.
Fr Bernard had been manager of the Woolworths store in Belfast before joining the Franciscans and he celebrated his First Profession of vows in Killarney in 1984.
Following his studies, he was ordained a priest in 1990 and since then he was assigned to different friaries, including Waterford, Multyfarnham, Dublin, Cork and Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal where he was based up to his untimely passing.
Fr Bernard served as guardian several times and was director on the Franciscan Missionary Union in Dublin. At the time of his death, as well as his duties in Rossnowlagh, he was director of the National Franciscan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
The Franciscan Order said he will be deeply missed by his siblings and wider family and his Franciscan brothers.
