Tributes paid to Fr Andrew
There was a large turnout on Thursday night to wish Fr Andrew O'Sullivan well before he leaves to study in Rome. The event included a Thanksgiving Mass and presentation function afterwards in the Parish Centre which he was the prime mover in establishing.
"I wonder is it to make sure that I go?" he quipped. Later he said he thanked God for having given him the last seven years in Kilcullen. "They've really flown by, and they have been great."
He said it had been a 'privilege' to serve the people of Kilcullen 'in good times and in bad', and that much work had been done over those years, including the refurbishment of two beautiful churches and a new Parish Centre. "The best way to show our appreciation for them is to pray in them," he said.
Noting that he had met many wonderful people who have now gone to God, he said they will always be with him. As would the children of the schools in the parish, who could always raise a smile. "No matter how bad things were, a visit to a school usually ended up with both me and the teachers in knots ..."
"The life of a priest working in a parish situation is in a very special way bound up with the parish community," he said. "Over seven years of celebrating the sacraments, he touched the lives of many individuals in this parish."
He said the initiatives, and indeed risks which Fr Andrew had undertaken might well be counted amongst his greatest gifts to the parish. "He was also willing to take whatever flack came with some of those initiatives, always undertaken because of his interest in Kilcullen."
Commenting that 'we all have to move on, whether we like it or not', Fr Murphy said it was in the knowledge that we are all richer for having had Fr Andrew's presence amongst us, as he himself is better for having ministered as a priest in the parish.
Fr Murphy thanked his departing colleague for his courtesy, concern, consideration and for his accommodation of Fr Murphy's own schedules and duties in and outside the parish.
"I have always been able to go away from the parish in the confidence that whatever matter would arise it would be dealt with in a capable and proper way ... the bin may not always have been left out for collection, but the central heating tank would always be topped up." He wished Fr Andrew 'genuine riches and precious memories' in his new posting to Rome.
Gavin Coyne gave a heartfelt speech of thanks on behalf of the young people of Kilcullen, recalling the friendship which Fr Andrew had extended to the youth of the parish.
Bernard Berney recalled memories of several priests of the past who had served in Kilcullen, each contributing in their own way to 'signposting our road to God'. He thanked Fr Andrew on behalf of the parish for the way he had encouraged 'eager helpers to rebuild and renovate' and for his part in establishing parish organisations such as the Family Mass Group and the Bethany Group.
"Most important to me is the friendly way he helped me on my own journey over the last seven years. I hope that when he has gone to Rome he will not become so absorbed in his study of Canon Law that he will forget his real gift of bringing to people the knowledge of God's love."
Paddy Moloney presented a reconstructed stained glass window to the Parish Centre, rebuilt from broken window remains left to the parish on the departure of the Cross and Passion sisters.
Concluding the evening, Fr Andrew thanked Fr Murphy for his wonderful support and company over the last three years. He said that Kilcullen would be his last parish for the foreseeable future.
"And that suits me fine, because I will never leave Kilcullen in many ways."
A slide show from the event can be seen here.
Brian Byrne.
