“A very, very special moment”
The outstanding event during my visit to Ireland was Fr Seamus Ryan’s funeral mass in his home village of Cappamore. A truly, truly inspiring priest, a great gift to us during our seminary days. Because of his inspiration we left our seminary full of hope, a time of renewal and inspiration was in store for our church because of the 2nd Vatican Council. Pope John 23rd had announced the council in order to open up the windows and let fresh light shine into the church. A time of great hope. Unfortunately his funeral mass was quite a contract. The age profile of the priests, and indeed the congregation. The stories of all his endeavour and our remembrance of his celebrations of the liturgy. His key message …. “The church as communities of faith and a new generation”. This is exactly what he would want us to continue to focus upon, and to develop and grow.