nottingham roman catholic diocesan education service
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Patrick Joseph McKinney was born in Birmingham on 30 April 1954, the eldest son
of Patrick and Bridget McKinney, originally from Ireland. His family moved to
Buncrana, County Donegal, Ireland, when he was still very young, but eventually
returned to Birmingham. Patrick began his studies for the priesthood at St
Mary’s College, Oscott, in 1972, and was ordained to the priesthood on 29 July
1978 in St Mary’s Church, Buncrana. After his Ordination, Father McKinney was
appointed assistant priest in the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Yardley Wood,
Birmingham, and chaplain to St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Kings Norton,
Birmingham. Between 1982 and 1984, he was a student at the Pontifical Gregorian
University, where he gained a Licentiate in Sacred Theology.