Diocesan News30 Mar 15

A Heaven–sent Opportunity

L–R: Jon Jnr, Mayor of Donegal, Councillor John Campbell, Geoff Browne (Parishioner), Captain Jon A McBride

Many different people have visited Donegal Parish Church, down through the decades, but few have travelled as far as one of this week’s callers.

Former astronaut, Captain Jon A. McBride, boldly went where, we believe, no fellow space–traveller has gone before. The ex–U.S. naval officer – who piloted the space shuttle Challenger on its penultimate mission – visited Donegal Parish Church with his son, Jon Jnr. The men were keen to see their ancestors’ home county and were brought to the church by parishioner Geoff Browne, accompanied by the Mayor of Donegal, Councillor John Campbell.

Earlier in the day, the astronaut treated pupils at Abbey Vocational School to an unforgettable science lesson. During an inspirational presentation, Captain McBride – an ex–fighter pilot – gave the students an insight into his career with NASA; showed them photographs including some he had taken as Challenger orbited the earth; and explained to them the physical and mental demands of space travel.

The students enjoyed hearing how astronauts trained for zero gravity in an aircraft nicknamed “the Vomit Comet” – for obvious reasons. He urged his young audience to study hard and not to waste the opportunity of acquiring a first class education.

Captain McBride and his son were hosted for part of their trip by Bishop Ken Good and his wife Mary. Bishop Good became friends with the former astronaut when they met at Kennedy Space Center recently, and agreed to help facilitate his visit to Donegal. While in the county, the McBrides toured some of the North West’s best–known tourist attractions, including Slieve League and Donegal Castle, where the Mayor presented them with a County Crest.