Father Michael Ross SDB

Life

Michael Ross was born in Dunmanway, County Cork, and entered the Salesians of Don Bosco, the religious congregation founded by Saint John Bosco for the education and evangelisation of young people. Ordained a priest in 1978, he served his congregation and the Irish Church for thirty-eight years across a striking variety of apostolates.

As a young Salesian he founded a Study-Buddies Club, a magazine for young people, and a language school in Maynooth, putting into practice Don Bosco's preventive system of joyful, accompaniment-based formation. He served as spiritual director of the Divine Mercy Conference in Ireland, of the Legion of Mary, of Saint Michael's Apostolate for Priests, and of Spiritual Revival Ministries. Devoted especially to the Legion, he completed a doctoral thesis on its founder, Servant of God Frank Duff, in 2014.

His most public legacy is Radio Maria Ireland, the country's first dedicated Catholic radio station, which he helped to establish and which was officially launched in Dublin on 11 February 2016, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. He served as its first Priest Director, broadcasting daily and assembling a team of lay volunteers.

By the spring of 2016 he was already undergoing treatment for cancer. He continued ministering until his strength gave out, and died at St James's Hospital, Dublin, on 30 October 2016, in the care of his Salesian community and family. His Requiem Mass was offered at the Church of Saint Agnes, Crumlin, by the Salesian Provincial Father Michael Casey SDB.