Fr. Jim O'Brien [R.I.P.]. A personal friend to share fishing and golf with as well as recreational imbibing of altar wine - especially that night of work related trauma when he stayed up all through the night to get me on an even keel. In return I listened to his jokes [and they were funny], as well as the pangs of the temptations he avoided.
Fr. Reg Hines [R.I.P.] Prickly fellow to whom I warmed and thereafter often graced our table. Made his own mead and possibly imbibed too much the night before he was due to say Mass - he was overdue by ten minutes that day, and I had to fetch him from the presbytery, following which he gave the parishioners a right old rollicking in the manner of: "So, now you know how I feel when many of you saunter into Mass late!"
Fr. Stephen Cooney. Very much alive and still a parish priest in his 90's. When my family was moving to another country town, 400kms distant, he borrowed a 5 tonner, helped load our furniture and drove to the new digs. He arrived at 11.30pm, unloaded, and returned immediately to arrive back home to say the 6am Mass.
Fr. Kevin Johnston: We worked closely on pastoral projects. Ever keen to involve people. After his transfer to another country parish I visited him on my work related trips. He found a way to stuff a hundred dollar note in my pocket or belongings before I left on each occasion.
The others I have known can wait for another day. Here is the second reading for today.
SECOND READING Hebrews 5:1-6
Brothers and sisters: Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who said to him: You are my son: this day I have begotten you; just as he says in another place: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
I finish with a little verse about Fr. Jim .............
O'BRIEN'S LAMENT
O'Brien's lament will never be known
Unless you detect the undertone.
Subtle and secret, his fears are few,
As he steps out, barefoot in dew.
Tobacco and wine are dear to him,
As also the waist he'd like to trim.
With books aplenty to be seen,
His ultimate choice is Graham Greene.
Goodness in water is what he seeks;
He catches the rain in a tank that leaks.
Women in white were his concern,
Showing to them too much concern.
He worried a lot for no return.
Key left in door, wrong vestments laid out;
He fed his guests and went without.
People would knock upon his door -
People of black, by the score.
Unless you detect the undertone.
Subtle and secret, his fears are few,
As he steps out, barefoot in dew.
Tobacco and wine are dear to him,
As also the waist he'd like to trim.
With books aplenty to be seen,
His ultimate choice is Graham Greene.
Goodness in water is what he seeks;
He catches the rain in a tank that leaks.
Women in white were his concern,
Showing to them too much concern.
He worried a lot for no return.
Key left in door, wrong vestments laid out;
He fed his guests and went without.
People would knock upon his door -
People of black, by the score.
I could write for an age without tryin',
About James Patrick O'Brien.
I'll just say: He never saw Killarney
But must have kissed the stone at Blarney;
For barely a word did he say in truth,
Which may have him in trouble with God, foresooth.
He'll be teaching angels now - how to be uncouth.
About James Patrick O'Brien.
I'll just say: He never saw Killarney
But must have kissed the stone at Blarney;
For barely a word did he say in truth,
Which may have him in trouble with God, foresooth.
He'll be teaching angels now - how to be uncouth.
THANK YOU, MY LORD, FOR ALL THESE PASTORS.
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