Appointments:
1958 Cardiff, Wales.
1960 Doneraile
1965 Ballymacoda
1974 Kilcorney, Banteer
1980 Fermoy
1994 Mitchelstown
On Sunday 28th June, Canon Tim celebrated the 8.30am Mass in the Parish Church assisted by Fr. Pat O’Donoghue. The celebration of the Eucharist was very important to him and in celebrating, he reached out to all those who joined him on the parish radio and on Live Streaming. On Sunday evening Canon Tim died and returned to the Lord that he loved and had served so well as a Priest for the past 62 years.
On the very First Sunday of the Lockdown, Canon Tim celebrated the Saturday evening Mass and on returning home he received a phone call from the U.S.A. thanking him for the Mass he had celebrated. He also received an email that weekend thanking him for his ministry and wishing him well as we faced a very challenging time ahead.
When I arrived in the Parish in late September 2019, Canon Tim was very welcoming and caring. He offered me his total support as I took up my new appointment. As he said over the past months “If I can help in anyway don’t spare me”. He was a very important part of our Parish Team and both Fr. Pat and I will miss him very much. His life experience and practical outlook was both informative and encouraging. He was a man who lived for the future and never dwelt too much in the past. Life was to be lived and he lived it very well.
The people of Mitchelstown will miss Canon Tim very much, as he has been a constant in your lives for 26 years. He has baptised your children, celebrated your First Holy Communions, officiated at your weddings, anointed the dying, celebrated funeral masses and the list goes on. His support for our parish schools was exemplary and his practical approach to issues and problems was much appreciated.
Mitchelstown was his home and now as he is buried in the Church grounds, he will remain with the people he has loyally served as Priest. As you pass by, stop and pray for him and ask his prayer for your intentions.
He would have been moved and humbled by the people who payed their respects to him in the Chapel of Rest, stood on the roadside as his cortege passed by and by your attendance at his funeral and burial within the restrictions that apply at this time.
The prayer Canon Tim normally said at the end of Mass is much loved by people and is produced in this newsletter. On the suggestion of Fr. Pat, we have ordered the printing of a memorial card, with the prayer, so that the people of the Parish would have it as a remembrance and support.
Peoples thoughts – “He was a gentle man and a 'down to earth' Priest. He has truly earned his place with God”. ………....”one of nature’s gentlemen”. “he was always a lovely man to meet and he will be sorely missed. May his gentle soul Rest In Peace.” “He will be fondly remembered by all who went to Lourdes with him over the many years and especially when he was director of the Pilgrimage to Lourdes.” May he Rest In Peace.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam”
Lord Jesus,
I give you my hands to do your work
I give you my feet to go your way.
I
give you my eyes to see as you do.
I give you my tongue to speak your words.
I give
you my mind that you may think in me.
I give you my spirit that you may pray in me.
Above
all,
I give you my heart that you may love in me,
your Father, and all mankind.
I
give you my whole self that you may grow in me,
so that it is you, Lord Jesus,
who
live and work and pray in me.
Amen
V. Rev. Canon Tim O’Leary
28th September 1932 – 28th June 2020