On this day

On this day

I went to Maynooth on June 13th for the annual Maynooth Union Day.  It celebrates the anniversaries of priests who have been ordained from the college down through the years.  Ordination Classes from five years on are invited. In more recent years, I think from one year to ten and then in five year groupings after that.  The Silver Jubilee Class and the Golden and Diamond Jubilee Classes are the main groupings.  This year is the thirtieth anniversary of the ordinations of my classmates and myself.

I met a number of my classmates there and it was good to see them.  As a class, we have been good at meeting through the years with a reunion each year. I don't think all classes do that but, for some reason and thankfully, we have done so.

There was Mass in the College Chapel at 12noon.  The Silver Jubilee Class take responsibility for the Mass with one of its members being Principal Celebrant and another preaching the homily.

After Mass a few of my classmates and I went down town to a coffee shop we used visit when we were students.  I hadn't thought of it in years but one of the lads suggested it and we went.  We weren't even sure if it was still there and, to be totally honest, I couldn't even remember which side of the street it was on!! It's there and on the right hand side:)  We had a good chat and caught up a little and laughed a bit too.  That's always good ...

There was a lecture in the afternoon and I went to that. Struggled a bit, to be honest to keep focused but that was more to do with me than the presenter. After the lecture we had a little while to wander around and then we had the Union Dinner which was excellent.

So what did it all mean to me?  What did I notice?

It meant something about sharing a journey with people.  Maynooth has been in existence since 1795 and thousands of priests have been ordained there.  A section of them, there yesterday.  I noticed people happy to be together and sharing memories of other days.  There was a fair span in age but a common bond too.  I sat at table with some of my own class and two men that were celebrating sixty years of priesthood.  They were so full of life and one told us that the other was his best friend since their days together in Maynooth.  It was refreshing to hear.  Two men, in different parts of Ireland, keeping a friendship alive for close on seventy years now. Something good about that - reassuring too and what struck me most was how happy they seemed.  One of them forgot the charger for his phone and asked could be borrow mine to call his nephew - I was happy to share it with him and happy too that his nephew took the call, chatted with his uncle and told him he'd sort things out.  Reminded me again how much we depend on our families ...

As an aside, when the man wanted to make the call he called out the number to me but got it wrong.  He said he'd see if there was enough charge in his phone to find the right number.  He turned it on and I could see the low battery light flashing but he found the number, called it to me and I dialed.  When he finished the call, he handed me back the phone saying "He will sort it out for me. Wasn't it a good job there was enough charge left in the phone for me to find the number?" I thought the same about the man - wasn't it great that there's enough charge in him to live, enjoy life and keep in touch.

One of the things I enjoyed was spending a bit of time in the College Chapel. It's an amazing place.  In more recent years the corridor leading to the chapel is locked and I'd not been able to go there.  Walking into it yesterday brought back so many memories. Sometimes you hear talk about Maynooth being too big now for the number of students and that maybe other options need to be explored. I've no doubt there's merit in such thoughts but I couldn't help wonder what would become of the College Chapel.  I didn't dwell on that but it seems unthinkable that it would have any other purpose other than be a place of worship and gathering.

The music at the Mass was very special and though there was only a handful of seminarians there, their sound filled the chapel.  I took some comfort from that, the fact that even though numbers are small, the song goes on.  Speaking of song, they sang a beautiful piece after Communion.  They were a few words in when I decided to record it but I got enough to give a flavour of it

Later, in his closing words of thanks, the Principal Celebrant drew attention to this piece and acknowledged its composer, Fr Pat Ahern, who was present at Mass and celebrating his Diamond Jubilee

I faced for home after dinner, glad that I'd gone for the day. I had considered not going but glad I changed my mind.  As I drove home, I felt thankful that I'd gone to Maynooth - not just yesterday - but back in September 1981.  I thanked my parents, in prayer, and my family and friends for their support through the years.  I regretted mistakes and some of the changes that have happened through the years but when all is said and done, I felt content that I've done the right thing with my life ... 

I'm thankful!

 


Five years ago I spoke at the Maynooth Union Dinner.  Yesterday's words were shared by Fr Seamus Quinn, Diocese of Clogher.  As I listened I realised he was much MUCH more brief than I.  I was reminded of a story I shared on Sunday last about a preacher who began his homily on Trinity Sunday with a question; "Where do I begin to speak about the Trinity?"  He repeated the question, "Where do I begin to speak about the Trinity?"  He paused and a man shouted up at him "as near to the end as possible"!!!

In any case, thought I might put a link to those words of five years ago.  Just in case you have a time on hand!!  (Maynooth Union 2012)

Cloonloo Re-visited!!

Cloonloo Re-visited!!

Just home from a lovely evening in Cloonloo. Some of the neighbours and the Parish Priest, Fr Joe Caulfield, had the idea of a Mass there to mark the Silver Jubilee. I was very happy to go home for the evening and am very grateful to all who were there. The liturgy was enhanced very much by the music and singing of a young parishioner, Hannah Clohessy, and the prayers and reflection used in the Mass were very special. I am grateful to Martina who composed them and to members of my family and our neighbour, John Crummy, who added voice to the printed word.

No more than the day in Kilmovee I was humbled to see many people this evening from Killaraght, Gurteen and Cloonloo, neighbours from Moygara and old parish friends from Monasteraden.

We remembered Frs Gerry Horan and Oliver McDonagh my classmates from Maynooth, both of whom have died. May they rest in peace. It was lovely to see Oliver’s family there.  I was very happy to see my neighbour and co-diocesan Fr John Geelan this evening and glad he con-celebrated Mass with Joe and I.

Joined by John Geelan and Joe Caulfield

We gathered in the local hall after Mass for some very welcome refreshments. Again I am thankful to all who prepared so much for the evening. I truly felt at home.

A picture received
With Fr Joe Caulfield and Joseph Cryan

I was given a lovely framed photograph of the Stained Glass window that weaves its wonder on the Sanctuary of Cloonloo Church. It’s a window I’ve admired all my life. I mentioned this at my mother’s funeral and was touched that Joe Caulfield remembered this and made the connection. Joseph Cryan presented me with the picture and it is assured a special place in my home and heart.

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The Sanctuary Stained Glass Window
St Joseph’s Church, Cloonloo

Hannah ended the Mass with an Imelda May tune!   It’s one of Imelda’s own compositions called “Proud and Humble” and certainly speaks to the Spiritual in us all.  There are a few versions of it on YouTube but I like this one because it’s a very natural recording.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7L4dhkY-mM&rel=0]

PROUD AND HUMBLE LYRICS

I said Lord here’s the total of what I done
Sometimes I did good, sometimes I done wrong
But I did the best I could from where I come from
And I keep on trying till my day is done

So I’m proud and humble, humble and proud
Yeah I’m proud and humble, humble and proud
I’ll be proud and humble, humble and proud
When I come, Yeah when I’m done…. Yeah yeah yeah

Oh I made the most from what I knew then
But if I lived it over, I’d do the same again
I try, I try for You to please, but You know I’m only human
You created me

And so I’m proud and humble, humble and proud
Yeah I’m proud and humble, humble and proud
I’ll be proud and humble, humble and proud
When I come, Yeah when I’m done….
Yeah yeah yeah Yeah eh Oh yeah

Ooh Ooh yeah Mmm Mmm

Oh I’m humbled by You and thankful O Lord
I studied Your life and Your holy word
But I hold my head just a little high
Cause I’m proud that I got on with this given life

And so I’m proud and humble, humble and proud
Yeah I’m proud and humble, humble and proud
I’ll be proud and humble, humble and proud
When I come, Yeah when I’m done….

Oh oh I’m proud and humble, humble and proud
Yeah I’m proud and humble, humble and proud
Oh yeah, proud and humble, humble and proud
When I come, Yeah, when I’m done….
When I come, Said when I’m done

Lord I’ll be coming, yeah yeah
Oh I’ll be coming yeah yeah

When I come, yeah,
Said when I’m done, yeah

Steps retraced

Steps retraced

It’s 3.30am and I can’t sleep. Never good at counting sheep, I’ve decided to virtually scribble a few lines here.

Earlier this evening I arrived in Maynooth and joined some classmates, two of our former deans and some family members of two deceased classmates for Mass in St Mary’s Oratory.

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The gathering is for what’s called Maynooth Union Day and usually takes place in June but has been brought forward this year due to the Eucharistic Congress taking place next month. The focus of this day, each year, is to gather priests – former students of Maynooth – to celebrate the anniversaries of Ordination. The groupings are loosely arranged in five year spans, e.g. Five years ordained, Ten years ordained etc. there will be men here tomorrow who have been priests for the past year or maybe sixty years. It’s a worthwhile gathering.

My class is here this year because it’s twenty-five years since we were ordained during the summer months of 1987. Certainly I find it hard to believe that a quarter of a century has passed since I headed West to prepare for ordination. Indeed that year, another Gurteen man was celebrating his Silver Jubilee and he seemed light years away from me. I’m happy that we will both be here tomorrow and the gap doesn’t seem as big now!! Happy Golden Jubilee, Greg Hannan.

I’m staying in the college tonight. The room I’m in is a student’s room – they’ve gone home now for the summer and the rooms are available to guests during the holidays. The room I left in June 87 is just down the corridor from where I am now. They have been decorated over the years, wooden floors, wardrobe and desk and the corridor has been carpeted but there’s a comforting sameness about it all. A sameness that says the journey continues.

How many have passed through these rooms, walked these corridors and made their own of this place is beyond ready reckoning. Thousands, for sure. Each one hoping he’d see it through and make a difference. Some opted to pull the door after them before ordination and to walk other paths. For others that decision came sometime later and priesthood was no longer a place to call home. All though spent time in rooms like I’m in now. I’ve no doubt, like me, many had sleepless nights too – wondering, praying, doubting, hoping, searching, finding, deciding and journeying on and around this road to Emmaus.

So spare a thought for all who came to Maynooth – most of them at the latter end of teenage years, hoping they were doing the right thing and wanting to be good priests like the ones they’d seen at home or in school. It’s doubtful many came here to fail or to hurt. Yet there has been failure and hurt but I’m convinced – I have to be convinced – that was not the starting point or intention.

They’ve put our Classpiece inside the main door of the college alongside the classpieces of the classes of fifty and sixty years ago. Looking at those photos of my classmates it’s certainly true that most of us have changed. There’s weight where there wasn’t. Baldness where there was hair but we are still the men in the picture. I think we have to make something of that, to be something of the man in the picture who left a room like I’m in tonight to head North, South, East or West to find a “Yes” that was rooted in Faith and do our best.

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I’m sleepy now! Chances are you are too so goodnight!

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