I’m sure we’re all familiar with Newgrange, that strange structure located about 30 miles outside of Dublin. The experts tell us it is about 5,000 years old. Imagine it was built before the time of Abraham, our father in faith. It was built when the power of symbol spoke deeply to our people. On the 21st December in the Northern Hemisphere we experience the shortest day, the darkest moment of year. As the sun rises on that darkest day, it shines into the back of the structure at Newgrange, filling it with light. Today we are almost certain it was a tomb, a burial chamber.
Think about that, think of what our ancestors were saying… Into the place of death at the darkest moment of the year, comes the light of dawn! What a powerful image. A flash of resurrection before our understanding of resurrection ever developed. Our ancestors, before we ever heard of Christ, were pointing to the way of resurrection. This message of light, of hope, is in our DNA, it’s in our bones, it’s in our psyche.
3,000 years after the time of Newgrange, Jesus Christ walked among us, with his message of hope, his message of light. In his resurrection he has defeated death, light has overcome the darkness! Because of that we too, his disciples, will defeat death.
This November, our remembering is especially poignant. We are experiencing a period of hardship and sacrifice due to the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to disrupt the lives of so many people.
In the midst of such a crisis we might overlook families whose loved ones have died recently from other illnesses or in tragic circumstances. Like the relatives of the victims of COVID-19 they too have been unable to engage fully in the customary rituals that normally mark the death of a loved one in this country. Restrictions have impacted on wakes, gatherings of extended family and friends at the funeral and in some cases, only a committal service attended by a small of mourners has been possible. During November we have another opportunity to acknowledge the pain and hurt that families have endured and to assure them of the consolation our prayer and our sympathy. As St Paul wrote to the Romans: “Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ”.
Since the beginning of the pandemic we have rightly marked the personal sacrifices of our health workers, carers and many others who provide our essential services. We also recognise the dedication and service of priests, religious and lay people who selflessly reach out to people in so many ways. Their pastoral care is bringing comfort and healing to those who are anxious because of a relative’s illness or who are feeling the loss and pain of bereavement. Their commitment and dedication is greatly appreciated.
As bishops we are dedicating this month of November as a time of remembrance and prayer for all those who have died since this time last year, whatever the cause.
May the light which spoke so powerfully to our ancestors in Newgrange 5,000 years ago, lighting up that burial chamber in the darkest moment of the year, giving them hope and encouragement, may that same light which we, as disciples, understand to be the Light of Christ encourage us in the dark moments we experience and give us the hope we all need in these difficult times.
Pope’s Encyclical on Fraternity and Social Friendship
Pope Francis signed his new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, on Saturday 3 October 2020 during a visit to Assisi. The Holy Father celebrated Mass at the tomb of his namesake, Saint Francis of Assisi. “Fratelli tutti,” the encyclical’s opening words, means “All brothers” in Italian. The phrase is taken from the writings of St. Francis, one of the major inspirations for Pope Francis’ third encyclical, on fraternity and social friendship. The full text of the encyclical, the third of Pope Francis’ pontificate is released today, Sunday 4 October, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Please see below the full text of the encyclical letter and some useful links and resources:
Bishop Paul has begun a journey of visitation of the parishes of the diocese. He has chosen to visit various parishes and to join in the celebration of Daily and Weekend Masses with the priest and people of the parishes. This is a wonderful opportunity for him to meet with the people and for them to meet with their new bishop.
So far Bishop Paul has celebrated Masses in Ballaghaderreen, Carracastle, Charlestown, Collooney Keash, Tourlestrane, Tubbercurry, Attymass, Bohola, Swinford, Kilmovee and Ballisodare (where he administered the Sacrament of Confirmation) and his journey continues.
On Thursday, September 10th, Bishop Paul celebrated his first Chrism Mass in the Cathedral of The Annunciation and St Nathy, Ballaghaderreen. Gathered with priests, deacons and parish representatives from around the diocese, he blessed the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of The Sick and consecrated Chrism. The oils were carried by three priests of the diocese: Frs John Maloney and Gerard Davey both celebrating their Silver Jubilee of Ordination this year and by Fr Peter Gallagher, celebrating his Ruby Jubilee this year.
Music was provided by the Cathedral Folk Group and the Word of God was proclaimed by parishioners of the diocese.
In his homily, Bishop Paul reminded priests gathered of Christ’s words: “You did not choose me, I chose you” and asked them to recall two key moments from their Ordination Days – the moment they lay prostrate on the ground as the Litany Of Saints was prayed over and for them and the moment the bishop laid his hands on their heads.
Homily Text
For the priests present this evening, I want you to take a journey back to your ordination day. Maybe it was many years ago or, for a few of us, it might have been in more recent years. We can probably remember those who were there, family, friends, parishioners. I’m sure there was a palpable sense of excitement, but also perhaps some fear and anxiety. There are many special moments during the Ordination Rite, tonight I want to refer to two of them.
The first moment was when you lay prostrate before the altar. Can you remember it? You lay there, and as you did the Litany of the Saints was sung. These saints, down through the centuries who themselves heard the call of Christ in their hearts, each one of them was being called upon to pray for you. Praying that you would respond to Christ. Those saints praying that within your heart you would hear the call of Christ; ”You did not chose me, no, I chose you.” They were praying that you, with your gifts and your brokenness, would be a faithful disciple. You lay there before the altar, the symbolic gesture of surrender. Surrender to Christ and His plan for your life
In the moments after the litany, you rose up from the ground, in preparation for the second moment I wish to refer to tonight, the laying on of hands. As the bishop placed his hands upon your head you were configured to Christ, forever changed in the depth of your being. In this moment it was Christ himself placing His hands upon your head. In this gesture He was saying; you belong to me, you are under my protection, I hold you in the palm of my hand. As I extend my hands over you, I ask that you give me your hands to do my work of service and of sanctifying.
These two moments; the laying prostrate before the altar and the laying on of hands are important moments for us to return to in the priesthood. They remind us of the heart of what we are about as priests. It is so important to return to those moments especially when expectations weigh heavily upon us and there are many;
You are expected to be great with the young people, you are to have a word for everyone. You’re expected to be a great preacher, being able to reach out to those who are seldom at church while at the same time able to keep the more traditional parishioners happy. Then there’s the finances, the Data Protection and Safeguarding procedures that all have to be in place and up to date. You are to have a flourishing Pastoral Council, you are always expected to be in good form and to be visionary while also conscious that people don’t like change. You are to be on top of things, ready to be there at an impending death while at the same time planning a baptism for first time parents, a great man with the sick, great at visiting houses, but not too imposing, great at organising the parish and the volunteers to satisfy the challenges of Covid 19 and the reduced numbers and sanitisation of the churches, the list goes on…
As the memories of the ordination rite fade over the years and the reality of life in the priesthood becomes more real with all of its expectations, it can be very real to ask the question; “Is it worth it?” When that question arises, return to the moment you lay on the floor of your church, return to the moment the Lord laid His hands upon your head… He called you to be His priest, he called you to be His disciple not just in that moment as you lay on the floor or the hands were imposed upon you. He calls you to be his priest now, in this very moment! He calls you as much today as he did on your ordination day. “You did not chose me, no, I chose you!”
How important it is to root ourselves in that call at this time. The reality is that we find ourselves at a critical moment, change is inevitable. The cliché reminds us that there are two options around change, do we fear it or embrace it? As we face the future, we must remember that the Lord who called us, whom we surrendered to on the day of our ordination, the Lord who placed His hands upon our head, that same Lord is calling us now! The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, be open to that Spirit!
Pope Francis leads us on this path and encourages us not to be afraid. He issues and invitation to us in Evangelii Gaudium;
“I invite everyone to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelization in their respective communities.” EG 33.
In the spirit of Pope Francis, let us be bold and creative in the task given to us by the Lord. In the coming months let us discern where the Lord may be calling us as His family in Achonry. What are the possibilities and opportunities He is offering us as priests and people?
So, is it worth it? Yes it is! As we lay prostrate before the altar on the day of our ordination, we were making the statement with our very bodies saying, we believe in Him, we trust in Him, we depend upon Him, we love Him. Let’s renew that belief, that trust, that dependence, that love this night…
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