It is amazing to me that I am here in Belfast this morning in these circumstances. When I left Queens University in 1972 to join the Jesuits, I felt certain that I would never have the opportunity to live here again. Then, God’s providence intervened. My superiors sent me to live in Belfast from 2005 to 2017. I want to acknowledge my predecessor, Archbishop Noel Treanor.
It was he who invited me to head up the Living Church office and work
at the heart of the Diocese of Down and Connor. He placed great trust
in me and my team of Paula McKeown and Jim Deeds. Had Bishop Noel not
chosen me for that work at that time I would almost certainly not be
here today. It is good to be here today, and I thank Bishop McKeown who
has been a friend since we were students together in Garron Tower. As a
brother bishop he has been a good neighbour and great example and
encouragement to me. Now, I leapfrog across the Derry Diocese from west
to east I know I can continue to rely on his friendship and support.
My roots are entirely in the Diocese of Down and Connor. Father Gerry
Park baptized me and Father Vincent McKinley gave me my first Holy
Communion in Cloughmills. Bishop Philbin confirmed me in Dunloy. This
is where I come from and I am humbled and privileged that, after all my
wanderings, the bishop of Rome has chosen to send me home.
I would not be telling the whole truth if I did not say that it will be a
terrible wrench for me to leave the priests and people of Raphoe. I
have been very privileged to serve among many people deeply committed to
the faith; they show it in their daily lives, in the ways they look
after one another in community and it was a bittersweet source of pride
to me that Donegal uniquely had a pro-life majority in the abortion
referendum some years ago. Donegal people took me into their hearts and
have inspired me and I will miss them greatly. People will now wonder
what will I be like as the Bishop of Down and Connor.
First and foremost, I am a priest.
As I reconnect with the priests of this diocese, many of whom I know
very well I have a great desire that all of us as priests would ‘Renew
our hearts’. Sometimes over recent years I have signed off letters to
certain people in Irish; i gCroí Íosa. In the Heart of Jesus. I find
that coming back to me, not simply as a pious phrase, but an expression
of my desire that both I and my brother priests be close to Christ and
his people.
Secondly, I am a Jesuit. And on this feast of the
Presentation when we celebrate religious life, I call to mind my own
vows and in particular the vow of poverty. There is so much poverty in
community – it is my intention to be close to the poor. That may be the
poor in heart, lonely, isolated – I want us to be a Church that builds
communities. There are other poverties too – the workers seeking a just
wage, young people without jobs or opportunities and families trying
their best to make ends meet. We need to be a Church that is in
solidarity with the poor and seeking justice for the poor.
Thirdly, I want to encourage us as a Church in Down and
Connor to make an impact on the world around us. Our love of Christ
should radiate from us – make others curious and want to share in our
joy. We must share the joy of the Gospel. Let us, priests, deacons,
people and Bishop together make the love of Christ know to all. One
very important way to do that will be to stand in solidarity with our
brothers and sisters in the other Christian denominations. Today I send
my very best wishes to the other Church leaders in this part of the
country.
It is a source of encouragement to all of us that there is movement
towards the re-establishment of the institutions of government here in
Northern Ireland. Their absence in recent months has been a serious
democratic deficit. I encourage everyone to do all in their power to
ensure that we have ongoing and stable government here that works hard
for the good of everyone and especially the most vulnerable. In
addition, we Christians need to pray earnestly for our politicians. It
is the grace of God in answer to people’s prayers that has led us out of
the horror of past violence to where we are today.
Over the past few years, I used occasionally to drop into Nazareth Lodge
Care Village to see Bishop Patrick Walsh and Bishop Tony Farquhar. As
he declined physically it was a delight to see how Bishop Walsh remained
sharp, warm and witty and very attentive to the needs of the other
residents. On this day I have to pay special tribute to my great friend
Bishop Tony Farquhar. I went into his Latin class in September of
1967. He knew that we were a good class but most of us were lazy,
especially me. To try and stir us up he had to pretend that he was
angry some of the time which, with his big soft heart, required a
certain amount of histrionics. He was a great motivator and got the
best he possibly could out of us. Any success I have had myself over
the years in teaching adolescents was modelled mostly on Tony. I am
sure the two of them will be praying for me as I do for them.