Reverend Monsignor Patrick James "Jim" Costigan

After more than 56 years of priestly service, the Reverend Monsignor Patrick James “Jim” Costigan, a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah, passed away unexpectedly at his part-time residence in Templemore, Ireland on Sunday, September 1, 2024 at the age of 82.

Msgr. Costigan, of Clonakenny, Roscrea, County Tipperary, was born to the late James and Delia Lynch Costigan on April 9, 1942, and baptized on April 15, 1942 in Shinrone, Ireland.

Predeceased by his parents, his brother Liam, and his brother-in-law Jack, he is deeply mourned by his brother Tom; sisters Elizabeth Gleeson and Margaret Dillon; sisters-in law Mary and Margaret and brother-in-law Michael; nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces; the Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes, Bishop of Savannah; the Most Reverend J. Kevin Boland, Bishop Emeritus of Savannah; the Most Reverend Kieran O’Reilly, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly; brother priests, religious, parishioners and friends in the Diocese of Savannah; and the priests and parishioners of Templemore, Clonmore, and Killea.

Costigan attended Cronan’s National School; St. Flannan’s College; Mt. Melleray Seminary; and Carlow College, St. Patrick’s and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Savannah at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow, on June 6, 1967 by the Most Reverend Patrick Lennon, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.

His first assignment in the Diocese was as Assistant Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Savannah in January 1969, then as Assistant Pastor at Sacred Heart Church, Augusta where he served in various capacities from 1969–1972. He was appointed Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Savannah from 1972–1982, eventually returning to Augusta as Pastor of St. Mary on the Hill where he served for twenty years. The remainder of his active priesthood was served in and around Savannah, first at St. James the Less Church, then St. Michael Church, Tybee Island, and finally at St. Peter the Apostle, where he was Pastor from 2008–2016, and then Senior Parochial Vicar until his retirement in 2018.

He was invested as a Chaplain to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI and installed as a Monsignor by Bishop J. Kevin Boland on June 29, 2008 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Savannah.

He faithfully served in a number of capacities throughout the Diocese of Savannah, including Vicar Forane of the Savannah Deanery and Vicar for Temporal Affairs.

Funeral Mass and Interment

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, Templemore, Ireland on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at noon IST (7 AM EDT) with interment in Clonakenny Cemetery to follow.

Funeral livestream link https://www.churchcamlive.ie/live-streams/

Memorial Mass

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Savannah, on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 11 AM EDT (4 PM IST). Mass will be streamed live at this site and the diocesan Facebook page.