Word has reached the Chancellor’s Office that Reverend Monsignor Michael F. Devine, 95, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 from natural causes.  Monsignor Devine was a retired priest of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, residing in Strandhill, Co. Sligo, Ireland.

Born on October 4, 1931, in County Galway, Ireland, Monsignor Devine was ordained for the Diocese of Elphin, Ireland on June 23, 1957. He celebrated his 69^th ordination anniversary this year!  He was sent to the Diocese of St. Augustine after ordination for two years and served in Jacksonville and at St. John Vianney, St. Pete Beach. He returned to Ireland, where he served for the next fifteen years until returning to Florida in July 1974.  His assignments include parochial vicar for the parish communities of St. Lawrence, Tampa (1974-1975); the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg (1975-1979); St. John Vianney, St. Pete Beach (1983); and Our Lady Queen of Peace, New Port Richey (1983-1984).  He served as parochial administrator and pastor of St. Cecelia Parish and School, Clearwater (1979-1982); and St. James Parish, Port Richey (1984-2000), where he led the community during its initial years.  In August 1999, Pope John Paul II bestowed upon him the honorary title of Monsignor.  He was appointed pastor of St. Brendan Parish, Clearwater Beach, where he ministered from 2000 until his retirement in 2009.  He remained in residence at St. Brendan, while providing occasional assistance to the parish and to St. Cecelia Parish, Clearwater.

He later moved to St. John XXIII Residence in Lutz, until August 2025 when he moved back to Ireland.

Monsignor loved sports and was very much involved with many sporting events in Ireland and here in Florida.

Monsignor Devine was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Theresa (McEleney), sister Kathleen Devine and brothers Sean and Brian.  Surviving family members include his niece, Treasa (Devine) Dovander, nephews Danny, Donal and Arnie.

Funeral services will take place in Ireland as follows:

Thursday, October 22, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Viewing at Moran’s Funeral Home, Ballygar, County Galway, Ireland

Friday, October 23, at 11:00 AM
Funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Church, Ballygar

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family of Monsignor Devine, in care of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Office of the Chancellor, P.O. Box 40200, St. Petersburg, FL  33743-0200.

Please keep Monsignor Devine’s family members and loved ones in your kind thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Obituary here (pdf).
Newspaper obituary at this link.

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May his soul and the souls of all the faithful
departed, by the mercy of God, rest in peace!