MONSIGNOR P.J. MCMANUS
70TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION
2 July 2017
First of all I congratulate you, Monsignor P.J. on this happy day. I congratulate you not just on reaching this rarely seen landmark on your life’s journey and your priestly journey, but on reaching it with some style – with a clear mind and a good memory, with an interest in everything, and the ability to take an active part in the celebration.
Monsignor P.J. was ordained on 22 June 1947. He was ordained in Maynooth as the custom then was along with his classmates. There were 73 ordained that year. The only other survivor of the class is a Fr Earl O’Connor of Dublin diocese and he was born in Belturbet. Monsignor PJ’s first appointment was to St Patrick’s College, Cavan. Then, in 1948, he was sent to the diocese of Clifton in Wales where he spent four years in parish work. His next assignment in Kilmore came in 1952 when he was appointed Diocesan Examiner, a position he held for six years. People of my age who were at primary school in those years will remember a tall, dark-haired, handsome young priest with a kindly face, who visited once a year and asked us about what we were learning in religion and examined us for Confirmation.
When I next met P.J. after my ordination in 1969, he had already been a curate in Cavan for more than 10 years. He went on to be Administrator of the Parish until he was made parish priest of Crosserlough in 1980. And now, 37 years later, he is still hale and hearty after 17 years as parish priest and two retirements. He retired as parish priest in 1997 and became a curate again until 2007, when he retired fully – well, not quite fully. He still continued to say Mass and help out when he was needed, and thank God is still able to have a little congregation around him to celebrate Mass every morning in his house in Kilnaleck. And I know that is very precious to him.
We thank God today for Monsignor’s long and fruitful priestly life and for all whose lives he has touched in his seventy years as a priest. You have shared the happy occasions of people’s lives, the baptisms, Communions, Confirmations, Weddings and you were there as a support and comfort in the sad times, times of sickness, death and bereavement. From my very sketchy knowledge of your ministry in Cavan, I know you have been there for people as a friend in need, as a good listener and wise adviser. You have been there especially as a friend to the weak and the poor. Your generosity to those in need is legendary because you believed that it was better to give and be fooled, than not give a leave someone in real need. Your long and loving ministry here in Crosserlough has endeared you to everybody and enriched this parish in ways we will only know fully in eternity.
For us priests, you were always an inspiration and example. Your of holiness of life, your hard work and unstinting dedication to duty, your meticulous preparation for everything, the quality of your preaching and your willingness to embrace new ideas and new ways – all of that set a standard for us and encouraged us to give of our best.
You had many responsibilities apart from your parish duties. You were an innovator and have left a lasting legacy to the diocese in some of the initiatives you pioneered. I mention only two here. You were a founder of the Kilmore Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes – was it around 1970 – and you were Director of the Pilgrimage until your retirement from that position in 2001. It was wonderful to see you a few weeks ago in Lourdes taking part in – I think – your 47th pilgrimage with the same devotion and enthusiasm as you had at the first.
The other great initiative I want to mention is the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council – CMAC – now known as ACCORD. You were instrumental in bringing CMAC to the diocese to provide courses of preparation for those soon to be married, and counselling for those married people who needed it or wished to avail of it. Like the Kilmore Pilgrimage to Lourdes, this organisation still continues to thrive and do great work in the diocese as many married couples here can testify.
In 1974 you became Vicar General of the Diocese, a position which entailed other responsibilities, like administering the priests’ salary scheme, being a member of several diocesan committees and advising and assisting the bishop. I know how much my predecessor, Bishop MacKiernan, valued your counsel and I was most grateful to you for continuing in that role for the first 10 years that I was bishop.
I don’t know if you know it P.J., but you have been described as the best bishop Kilmore never had! And I’m reliably informed that after Bishop McKiernan was appointed and came to visit you in the presbytery in Cavan, a certain housekeeper, not known for her discretion, greeted him with the salute: Congratulations my Lord, but remember, you only beat our man by one vote. I’m surprised she didn’t call for a recount!
Monsignor is fortunate in having a great family and great friends. Your love and care have been a great support to PJ throughout his life and in his ministry, and especially in recent years. I know he has been a great support to you too in good times and in bad and how much his presence has meant to all of you at important family events and on countless small occasions when a letter or a card or a call would express his kindness and care. Today we celebrate all that and thank God for all of that and much more besides.
Monsignor P.J. I congratulate you once again on your jubilee and I wish you God’s blessing and good health and happiness in the years ahead. Go mairfidh tú an céad!
