Father Martin Ryan of Muckalee is launching his book this Sunday which is entitled From Muckalee to Mindanao and back, a Missionary Journey. After over 50 years in the Philippines as a missionary priest, Fr Ryan has modern and unconventional views about the priesthood in today’s society.
His book tells the story of his life as a boy in Muckalee and later about his life in the Philippines where he worked.
Father Martin also goes into detail about some of the great sporting achievements of the Muckalee area during his lifetime, from athletics to racket ball.
Speaking with The Kilkenny Advertiser this week, it is obvious that Fr Martin is very modern in his views on the priesthood. He commended Father Sean McKenna, who this week announced that he was to leave the priesthood to get married.
“Sean was a very popular priest in Derry. More and more priests are leaving the priesthood because they want to marry, I think it’s close to 130,000. The remaining priests now have a huge work load. I have written a letter to the Pope where I ask that a third general council, Vatican 3, be called so we can address this issue. I believe that there should be optional celibacy for priests.”
Prior to the launch of his book this weekend Fr Martin spoke of his days as a young boy in St Kieran’s College.
“I went to St Kieran’s College where I was always getting up to mischief, like getting caught mitching or smoking around the back. I used to spend my time fishing with my hands and catching rabbits with ferrets to get money for fags, ” he laughed.
Father Martin who is now 81 years of age, was then sent to the Philippines after seven years in the Colombian Fathers Missionary Seminary in Navan.
“I enjoyed my time in the seminary, they had a lot of sports there which was great. When I got to the Philippines I spent six months learning one of the many languages of the country, called Binisaya. It wasn’t too difficult as it had its own alphabet. It was just the pronunciation I found difficult. The Philippines was 80 per cent Catholic as they were ruled by the Spaniards for generations. However, when we went over, there was no local clergy, we were the only ones. That was our mission, to promote local clergy so that the parishes would have their own priests.
“They practise their religion the same way as us. We used to say mass in a lot of areas and would have to spend three days on horseback or spend the night but the Filipinos were always very welcoming and generous.
Whilst in the Philippines, Father Martin set up substance abuse centres to help people with drinking problems etc - something which is very close to his heart.
“The treatment centres worked very well, we had counsellors which had once had an addiction to a substance before and overcame it helping the patients. It was a three month live-in programme and out of 1,000 graduates, 72 per cent are still sober.”
After spending over 50 years in the Philippines, Father Martin is back in Ireland a year now and has got straight back into life at home.
“St Martins are stronger every year in the hurling and hopefully the ball will fall kindly this year for us. But they are not tackling hard enough. They have the skill but they need to attack harder. They have great facilities in Muckalee now. In our time Dingy Carrigan used to put on the lights of the tractor so the lads could see the ball!”
Father Martin is still as fit as a fiddle and still plays racquetball.
“I haven’t played in the last year because of the book but hopefully I’ll start again soon.”
Speaking about his friend father Michael Sinnott who was recently released following a kidnap ordeal, Father Martin said, “he is a very brave man. There was thanksgiving mass after his release where he gave a homily saying “allow God to love you,” that was what he must have done.”
Father Martin’s book is being launched by Kilkenny Alive editor Jimmy Rhatigan this Sunday in Muckalee Community Hall at 4pm.
The book is being retailed at €10 and is available from local book stores.
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