Pope John Paul II in 1979 The Notebook
This weekend’s visit by Pope Francis will inevitably rekindle many memories of the only previous papal visit to our shores. In September 1979 when Pope John Paul arrived I had been a seminarian for just one month. As you can imagine I was already full of idealism and religious zeal and to cap it all the boss was coming to see us! To make me and my fellow students even more special, in a packed schedule over two days the Pope was making time to meet us on our own.
And so in the very early hours on Monday October 1, 1979, almost 1,000 Irish seminarians from all over the country made our way to the famous Pugin College Chapel in Maynooth. The atmosphere was electric as we waited through those night hours for the Pope to arrive at 8am. I’m sure we prayed, we definitely sang and talked and told stories. We were entertained by, among others, James Galway on his beautiful golden flute. Years later I heard James reflect on that memorable night and the irony of him, a Belfast Protestant, singing with 1,000 trainee Catholic priests waiting for the Pope to arrive!
The Pope eventually arrived, delayed by fog. Having been instructed how we were to join our hands and respectfully welcome the Pope, the door opened and we duly ignored the instruction, welcoming him like the Limerick fans cheering their captain as he raised Liam McCarthy aloft.
John Paul made a short speech and while I have forgotten most of it I do remember one little passage where he said: “The Catholic Faith of Ireland today was linked, in God’s plan, to the fidelity of St Patrick. And tomorrow? Yes, tomorrow some part of God’s plan will be linked to your fidelity – to the fervour with which you say yes to God’s word in your lives”
Thirty nine years later, seven years a seminarian and 32 as a priest, I sometimes go back to those words in trepidation…a part of God’s plan for the church and faith in Ireland is linked to the fervour and fidelity with which I continue to say ‘Yes’.
The context of my vocation and those who along with me shouted and clapped for John Paul in Maynooth all those years ago has changed dramatically – one small bus could bring all the Irish seminarians to welcome Pope Francis this weekend. But those words of John Paul are still relevant today.
God’s plan for the Church in Ireland is now also explicitly linked to the fervour and fidelity of so many other people beyond seminarians and priests. It is linked to the faith, fervour and fidelity of countless catechists, pastoral workers, music ministers, pastoral council members, liturgical planners, parish secretaries and countless other people who are emerging in a new era of co-responsibility and partnership.
God’s plan for the Church in Ireland must surely also be linked to the commitment we all bring to creating new structures, new wine skins where the gospel of love and compassion can be preached and lived.
And that brings me to one final, perhaps somewhat worrying note.
The cost of the Papal visit this weekend and the World Meeting of Families is somewhere in the region of €21m, whether from sponsorship or donations from the faithful we will find the money to pay the bill. I just wonder what €21m could do if it was invested in the Irish Church, resourcing new ministries and new structures. I can but hope!
It could happen to the Pope!
Paddy was returning home from the pub, smelling like a distillery. He flopped on a bus seat next to a priest. His tie was stained; his face was plastered with red lipstick, and a half empty bottle of whiskey was sticking out of his torn coat pocket. He opened his newspaper and began reading. He turned towards the priest and asked: “Father, what causes arthritis?”
“Well my son,” looking down his nose at the inebriated Paddy, “it’s the result of loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much whisky and contempt for your fellow man.”
“Well I’ll be damned!” Paddy muttered, returning to his paper.
The priest, feeling a little guilty, said, “I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. How long have you had arthritis?”
“I don’t, Father. But I was just reading here that the Pope does.”