Funeral Homily- Monsignor Canon Patrick Mcaleenan

Funeral Homily- Monsignor Canon Patrick McAleenan

Given by Canon Michael Harrison

13th June 2017

On the same day that Fr. Pat died, John Noakes died. Remember, John Noakes, the well-loved presenter of Blue Peter from the 1970’s? And I was struck that day by the similarity of the way tributes were paid to both, - both Fr. Pat and John Noakes.

It would appear that the relationship that exists between a Television personality and the general public is similar to the relationship that exists between a Catholic Priest and his parishioners. People see us, but they don’t really know us. We are part of the family- but not of the family. We are familiar- and yet unfamiliar to so many people at the same time.

And I think this is particularly true of Monsignor Canon Patrick McAleenan- known simply as “Fr. Pat” by everyone.

My own relationship with Fr. Pat dates back to 1970 to the days when John Noakes was presenting Blue Peter, as it happens. I was a ten year old schoolboy when Fr. Pat was appointed to Bletchley Parish. He had just left the Carmelites- it is lovely to see Fr. Michael Spain here from the Carmelites. Fr Pat was a dashing young curate from Northern Ireland- with dark hair, a distinctive Northern Ireland accent, with energy galore, with a love for sport, especially dangerous Irish games which involved a ball, a wooden bat/ racquet/ weapon and no obvious rules of play. A bit like a 1970’s version of gladiatorial combat; in those games the winners were the one who survived! Fr Pat involved himself with hurling / Irish football/ rugby and played for the local “Erin Go Bragh” team, often getting flattened, laid out –just ask his family about what happened on his 40th birthday!

Fr. Pat (or Fr. Mac as we used to call him) was very popular with us young people: he would come to our youth club, he would play rounders with us, he would visit our houses, our families and chat with our parents. He would come into our non-Catholic Secondary Schools for assembly and he would say Mass for all parishioners on Sundays- and never took too long about it; (we had a very short attention-span in those days.) Yes, we all liked Fr. Pat - because he liked us, he took a genuine interest in people. He was always friendly with a mischievous streak, always our friend. He was in our parish of Bletchley for seven years, and he was very popular with everyone- young and old.

1 Little had I known then that, fifteen years later, in 1992 I would be appointed as Fr. Pat’s assistant priest here in Corby and that we would live under the same roof for 5 ½ very happy years.

Now, some Parish Priests are easier to live with than others. I’m sure that my brother priests gathered here would agree with me on that. But, also some Assistant Priests are easier to live with than others. Well, on that score let me tell you, that Fr. Pat was a gentleman- ask anyone of his assistants and they would tell you the same. And if I may just give an apology from Canon John Udris who is really sad (“gutted” in fact) not to be able to be here today.

The young, newly ordained Fr. John was here, as Fr. Pat’s curate in Our Lady’s for 7 years and he writes of Fr. Pat: “Yes, we had some special times together. I remember stumbling in on Pat one Saturday evening in his study. And he was preparing his homily with a glass of whisky. Obviously I looked surprised and he asked what was the matter. I said we are told never to drink on your own. And he replied ‘I’m not drinking alone! I’m drinking with all the other priests who are drinking on their own!’ “. John adds: “I am grateful to the Lord for him being my first Parish Priest. He was gentle, kind and we had some good laughs. May he rest in perfect peace”.

Fr. Pat was not a man for small-talk, was he? He was a quiet man, a reserved man, a shy man. He found it difficult to socialize. For a priest whose role is such a public one, this is a heavy cross to bear. And we should be all the more grateful to Fr. Pat that he carried that particular cross every day, in order to lay his many other talents or gifts at the service of God and his people. Fr. Pat was a shy person. Shyness can often be misinterpreted as rudeness and Fr. Pat suffered often from that misunderstanding/misconception. He often looked more serious than he was: but when he smiled or laughed, he would light up the room. He had a mischievous sense of humour: how he loved Dave Allen!

He was a man of few words: but what he said was worth listening to. Fr. Pat wasn’t one to use two words where one (or none) would do; except, that is in his sermons, where he would excel in declining adjective after adjective to emphasise his point.

Fr. Pat’s sermons: sometimes Pat, you hit the mark, other times you left us guessing but you always got us thinking. But you always, always worked hard on your sermons, preparing them at great length, instructing, teaching your people.

2 Fr. Pat, you had a cheeky streak, a rebellious streak, which would sometimes surface in your homilies. You had your issues with the Church and its authority which again, might occasionally bubble up to the surface during a sermon. Yet you remained a faithful, loyal servant of Holy Mother Church; for it is possible to disagree with something or someone and yet still love them. And how overjoyed you were, when Pope Francis was elected/chosen as Pope - enough said.

You could say with Fr. Pat, “what you see is what you get”- but that would not be the entire truth. Because, behind that quiet, reserved, shy exterior lay a deep well of humanity. Fr. Pat was, (if I borrow from his style of using many adjectives in his sermons) Fr. Pat was: decent, loving, dedicated, honourable, intelligent, courteous, gentle, wholesome, dependable, humble, sincere, well-read, self-effacing, and genuine.

We are not here today to canonise Fr. Pat. He had his flaws- as we all do. But we are here today to give thanks to God for Fr. Pat who put his whole self, flaws and gifts and all at the service of God and his Church as a priest. And so many people benefited from his long, fruitful ministry and those people will never forget his kindness.

This town has had more than its fair share of tragedies/sorrows, suicides, car-crash deaths, murders, deaths of children. If I just mention David Crowe, aged 10; Matthew Lee, 19; Louise Allen, 13; Emma Griffin, 16; Terence McMahon and Luke Murray both aged 13 and, of course, poor little Collette Gallagher in 1986; plus many more you can think of. People turn to their Parish Priest at such times- they lean on him for support. It was Fr. Pat who held this community together during those difficult times - as well as during the happy times, too weddings, baptisms, First Holy Communions. We think of the Ordinations here of Stephen McGuiness and Mark Floody as examples.

As a result of being with his people at such times Fr. Pat commanded enormous respect on this town. He was a man of the people, for the people. “Deeds, Not Words” is the motto of Corby town. And ‘Deeds not Words’ could be easily be the motto of Fr. Pat, couldn’t it? Just ask his parishioners, just ask someone like Maureen who said, “Fr. Pat came to see my house-bound mother with Holy Communion - not once a month, not once a fortnight, not once a week, but every day. Every single day- for eight years! How many of us priests do that? Fr. Pat did! That was the sort of man he was: he just got on with the job, without telling anyone, no song no dance, no fuss no carry-on, DEEDS NOT WORDS. And Maureen’s mother, Kathy was one of many who benefitted from Fr. Pat’s selfless ministry.

3 Of course, Fr. Pat rose up the ranks; Diocesan Tribunal, Canon, Monsignor, Vicar General for 11 years. Now for those who may not know; Vicar General is the Bishop’s right- hand man, his chief advisor, counsellor, and the highest a priest can go without getting a “Pointy Hat” as Fr. Pat would call it. Fr. Pat was a VIP- a Very Important Parson. But did he ever show it? Or ever show off? Not at all! Never once did I see Fr. Pat in his Canon’s robes. It took him all his time to wear a clerical collar. His humility did him proud.

Fr. Pat retired in 2009 after 47 years of faithful priestly service and 26 years of them here in this parish. He loved Corby, he loved the people. He wanted to stay locally. Our thanks go out to Una who looked after Fr. Pat so well during the years of his retirement- a time when he did not enjoy good health. And Fr. Pat’s final wish was to be buried here in Corby and you are welcome to join us at Shire Lodge Cemetery immediately following this Requiem Mass.

Finally, the readings we just heard were the ones read out at Mass the morning after Fr. Pat died. Joan read them that morning, as she did just now - as beautifully as she always does. And certain lines just leapt out at us that day as if to say “Fr. Pat”- he is here.

It was quite uncanny, and we said that day that, unless Fr. Pat had chosen any other readings we would use them today. Here’s what I mean! Can you spot Fr. Pat in these readings! From Acts: “You know what my way of life has been ever since the first day I set foot among you (in Corby not Asia), How I served the Lord in all humility with all the sorrows and trials that came to me. I have not hesitated to do anything that would be helpful to you. I have preached to you and instructed you, both in public and in your homes urging you to turn to God and to believe in our Lord Jesus. Life to me is not a thing to waste words on. I have carried out the mission the Lord Jesus gave me to bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace”.

Indeed, Fr. Pat did all that. And last of all, from that day’s Gospel. Let this be our final prayer for our dear Fr. Pat. Imagine Fr. Pat saying these words today. “Father, I have made your name known. I have given them the teaching you gave to me. I have prayed for them. I have glorified you on earth. Now, Father it is time for you to glorify me. I am not in the world any longer. I am coming to you”. Amen.

4 Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.