Homily preached at Fr Gabriel Maguire CSsR funeral...
Preacher, Rt Rev Ralph Heskett CSsR, Bishop of Hallam
As you might imagine the readings today are full of hope and promise as they look to a future life. The purpose for the writer of the Book of Wisdom is to address some of the difficult issues of the day and offer his readers hope. In particular, he struggles with the question: How is it that the wicked seem to prosper and the just suffer? His conclusion is that although the just seem to have died they are really alive with God. They have pleased God, so God has loved them, They have been taken up and “grace and mercy await the chosen of the Lord.”
Jesus also offers his listeners hope filled words, too. He promises that he will never drive away those given to him by the Father because he only does the Father’s will. He mentions two things as the Father’s Will, firstly, that “I should not lose anything of what the Father gave to me” and second, ‘that I should raise it up on the last day.’ In these words, Jesus reveals to us the Father’s love and his own wish to draw us to share in his relationship with the Father and for ever.
It is the hope expressed in today’s readings that gathers us around Gabby in prayer for the last time today. They express his hope, too, -a hope he shared with others – often on an occasion such as this. Today we pray that it will be for Gabby a hope fulfilled and a promised kept and that with St Paul, he now possesses the crown of righteousness reserved for him.
Gabby’s early years were spent in the family home in Swanlinbar County Cavan along with his parents and siblings, Ann, Des, Benedict and Gerard.
His teenage years were spent here in the Juvenate. It was then, I think, the seeds of his love for the Abbey were sown. He entered the noviciate 1967 and was professed the following year. He went on to Hawkstone where he was ordained on 1 July 1973. His ordination would be the last of the ordinations to take place at Hawkstone. I often used to tease him about his ordination. I was the student MC for the celebration which, in normal circumstances, didn’t mean very much. Unfortunately, the Bishop's secretary, the real MC, was unable to come so it was left to me. I had only been present at one ordination prior. On the day, I quickly discovered that that the presiding bishop would not move unless instructed by me, but I was never sure what the next move should be. With lots of hesitation somehow, we managed to get through. I would often tease Gabby saying that I couldn’t be sure that he was validly ordained!
Gabby was equally at home in a boiler suit with a toolbox at hand and a chasuble and chalice. He has left his mark everywhere he has been with his handiwork, not least, in Bishop’s House in Gibraltar and Sheffield.
In the early days of our ministry, I was often the 4th man on the School Mission team with Gabby along with John Brookes and Ian McKay. As you might imagine he did things differently. His quirky style appealed to the students and he steadily building up a rapport with them throughout the week. I had the privilege too, of giving a number of parish missions with him during that time as well where his engagement was equally effective, and he was always a good companion.
He loved his time in Zimbabwe. He brought his typical energy and enthusiasm to his ministry there. In the end, it was his sense of justice and what is right and not being afraid to say it as it is that he was asked to leave the country. With a heavy heart he returned to the province. but I think there was always a little bit of him that enjoyed the kudos of being a Persona Non Grata of the Zimbabwean government!
As mentioned, earlier, from his Juvenate days, Gabby had a genuine love and affection for the Abbey Parish. Your presence here today is a testimony of your genuine love and affection for him. He proudly introduced himself wherever he went as, “I’m Father Gabby from the Abbey’. You know that he worked tirelessly for you as your parish priest for 18 years or so. He was everywhere and extraordinarily generous with his time. He would clock you all in and out at the weekend Masses. He was devoted to Campion and The Abbey schools, happy to just spend time with both students and staff. He found the time to take young people of the parish away on trips and even found time to play cameo roles in the parish pantomime. I know that he appreciated the support you gave him as your parish priest. I know, too, he would want to me to acknowledge, in particular, the support he received from Claire over the years, especially in the years since his cancer diagnosis.
When he was struck with cancer, he was told that in 6 months he would be back in ministry. Sadly, although he fought the good fight, it wasn’t to be and with great reluctance he had to step down from being parish priest of his beloved Abbey.
We often say, when someone has a terminal illness that they never complained. Well, it was true of Gabby. I never heard him to complain about is his lot and what had come upon him. We all know what he was like: always of the move, full of energy, independent. It must have come hard to him, but he never said. Lest you think I am about to canonisation him he could find something else to complain about - but never his illness!
In the end, he had a perfect parting. Ann, his sister, was with him. When the moment approached, she lifted his head he slipped quietly away.
I mentioned at the beginning that Gabby made his home here with the Redemptorist family, but his roots remained deep in Irish soil. So, it is fitting that we send him on his way with the ancient and traditional Irish blessing:
May the roads rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back
Mat the sun shine on your face
May the rains fall soft upon the fields
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
