Eugene Loftus

Eugene Loftus was born on 6th October 1892 in Ditton, Lancashire. His father Patrick was a copper worker. In 1901 he and his wife Lillian (nee Dooley) were living with several children, two boarders and Lillian's mother in Hale Road.

He was educated at English College in Lisbon, and ordained by Cardinal Mendes-Bello on 16^th March 1918.

He was appointed curate at St Joseph Wigan to 1919, curate at St Alphonsus Liverpool to 1929, curate at St Hugh of Lincoln, Liverpool to 1931; curate at St Richard Atherton to 1935. During this time he travelled extensively to Lisbon;:

26 September 1922 to 23 Oct 1922 he travelled between Liverpool and Lisbon. His address was 109 Great Mersey Street, Liverpool.

In 1924 he travelled back to Lisbon - still giving his address as 109 Great Mersey Street. Still at that address in 1929. The address is part of a terrace, which is Grade II listed.

25 Sep 1930 - arrived back from Lisbon, on his way to St Hugh's in Earle Road, Liverpool.

23 Sep 1932 - arrived from Lisbon. St Richard's, Atherton, Lancashire

29 Oct 1934 - travelled from New York to Liverpool; gave his address as Atherton, Manchester.

He was Parish Priest at St Cuthbert from 1935-1940, during which time there was a break-in and attempted theft from the church (see right).

Father Loftus maintained his links with Portugal. On 20 August 1938 he left for Lisbon, arriving back in Southampton on 6 Sep 1938; he gave his address as 24 Church Rd, Liverpool - the presbytery for St Cuthbert's. When a register of the population was taken in September 1939, Father Loftus was living in the presbytery at 24 Church Rd, Stanley; his sister was acting as his housekeeper.

From St Cuthbert's, he became Parish Priest at St Mary’s, Blackbrook in St Helens where he lived until his death on 27^th April 1947.