Measured by time, his service as a priest has been impressive, having devoted 57 years to shepherding people of faith, the last 30 as pastor of St. Mel Parish in Fair Oaks.

But it is likely that Father Richard Doheny is best known for his gentle love of people, keen Irish wit and gift as a storyteller.

Father Doheny, 82, began the next chapter in his life Oct. 1 when he retired as pastor of St. Mel Parish, where he will remain as pastor emeritus. Father Liam McSweeney has been appointed parochial administrator of St. Mel.

Born in the parish of Gortnahoe in Tipperary County in southern Ireland, Father Doheny grew up on his parents’ farm, the sixth of nine children. His family grew their own vegetables, owned livestock and made their livelihood from the land.

“We lived frugally and well and were very staunch in the faith,” he said in a recent interview, noting that two of his sisters became nuns.

He said it was the parochial vicar of his parish, “a holy man who loved life and was very much involved with the youth,” who inspired him to a vocation as a priest.

Following his ordination in 1948 at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Thurles, Father Doheny became one of nearly a dozen Irish priests selected by the late Msgr. Thomas Kirby to serve in the Diocese of Sacramento.

“It was the end of (World War II) and there was a need for priests in the United States,” he recalled. “We all paid our own way. Msgr. Kirby got us for free.”

One of the sons of Ireland who arrived in Sacramento with Father Doheny in 1948 was Msgr. Edward Kavanagh, whose first appointment was to St. Rose Parish in Sacramento where he currently serves as pastor. The two priests grew up living about two miles from each other, were ordained the same year and have remained friends ever since.

Msgr. Kavanagh describes his longtime golf partner as “very well read, a man who remembers everything that ever happened, and a gift to St. Mel Church.”

“He has been very organized from the get go,” Msgr. Kavanagh said. “His forte was catechesis and pastoral visitation.”

Father Doheny’s first assignment was as parochial vicar of St. Patrick Parish in the Gold Rush town of Angel’s Camp, now part of the Diocese of Stockton. He recalls his initial “culture shock,” spending his first Thanksgiving without family, “throwing oranges from an orange tree to the other side of the road.”

But in no time he felt right at home, keeping busy traveling to eight mission churches in the parish community.

“The American Catholic people took to us (Irish priests) like ducks to water,” Father Doheny said.

He determined as a young priest that what really matters most in his chosen vocation grows out of nurturing human relationships.

“I like people,” said Father Doheny, who seldom misses an opportunity to greet parishioners before and after Mass and understands the value of home visits when people are broken and lost. “A priest has to be present to his people and let them know he cares for them.”

After one year at Angel’s Camp, Father Doheny was sent to St. Joseph Parish in Marysville where he served from 1949 to 1954.

In 1954 he was appointed pastor of St. John Parish in Quincy, where he served from 1954 to 1960.

Father Doheny’s next pastorate was at St. Paul Parish in Sacramento, where over the next 16 years he would literally rebuild the parish facility. Envisioning the potential for future growth in the Florin area, Father Doheny purchased 15 acres of land.

With his leadership supported by volunteer labor from parishioners, St. Paul added a parish hall, rectory, school classrooms and a parking lot.

“He was really a go-getter. He knew what he wanted and went after it,” said parishioner Mary Scardello. “Many people who come here say this is a friendly parish and Father Doheny is a big part of what we are today.”

When he moved across town to serve as pastor of St. Mel in 1976, Father Doheny went to work again. He proceeded to oversee the construction of a new building housing a library, youth ministry room, parish offices and perpetual adoration chapel, as well as the renovation of the church and parish hall.

Father Doheny said the best thing he ever did was to establish a chapel for perpetual adoration of the Eucharist.

“For 13 years around the clock that has brought tremendous blessings to this parish,” he said. “People came, having no religion, wanting peace and quiet, and then started coming for instruction.”

Deacon Patrick Henning of St. Mel has known Father Doheny for 25 years. He describes the priest, who has been both his pastor and friend, as “one of the strongest, gentle men” he has ever met.

“He has great pastoral skills,” he said. “He’s a raconteur, a person who loves life and believes in delivering the faith in very basic ways that cut to the heart of any issue.”

Parishioner Don Harrison credits Father Doheny with nurturing faith formation at St. Mel by initiating vibrant lay ministries, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Little Rock Scripture classes and the Catholics Returning Home program.

“He is highly hands-on and radiates joy over each project,” said Harrison, who is director of adult religious education. “The thing that makes everything work is Father.”

Janet Nagle has known Father Doheny for 25 years, working with him for the past 16 years as principal of St. Mel School.

She has found him to be “a strong leader, actively involved in the school spiritually and supportive of parents financially.”

“He has been truly a guiding light to all of us,” Nagle said.

Making the decision to retire, Father Doheny said, was not difficult. Battling cancer for some time now has made keeping the rigorous schedule of a pastor a considerable challenge.

“I’m very blessed,” he said, referring to Father McSweeney and parochial vicars, Father John Folmer and Jesuit Father Carroll Keating, who currently staff the parish. “I was never happier in my life than I am right now.”

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