Fr Ailbe Delaney C.P

 

 

Born:  July 19^th 1937

Professed: September 29^th 1957

 Ordained: December 22^nd 1962

Died: January 28^th 2010 

 

 

Nothing therefore can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us.

 

For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 (Romans 8: 35 - 38)

 

 

Father ailbe delaney

 

Just after 4 oclock, last Thursday evening, Ailbe was a little upset. He mislaid his good silver watch which had been his constant companion in recent years. Unusually for him he had time on his hands because of his illness. As his sickness progressed his watch often slipped into his hands as well. Only a few days previously I asked him if I could bring it to the jeweller to have links removed from the band. He said hed leave it be because he felt he was regaining some weight.

 

By half past four he had found his watch and made his way slowly back to the nursing home. He was weak but in no distress. His breathing was good. He had joined in the community Mass earlier that day and he ate whatever he could at teatime in the nursing home. He went to his room and rested on the bed. But when the nurse went to give him his nightly medicine, she discovered that Ailbe had slipped into heaven as quietly as a whisper. His time had indeed come. In life and in death he did things privately, quietly, in his own time.

 

For most of his life Ailbe looked, and was, as solid as a rock. He had the body of a champion swimmer - which of course he was. His mighty arms, his muscular legs, his expansive chest were more enduring trophies than all his medals. On the football field he was a formidable opponent and there are many former friends in Ardoyne Youth Club who still display the scars. Off the field he was gentle, loyal and generous. But if there is one word that sums up Ailbes life of dedication it is compassion. He took the Lord seriously: Be compassionate as your heavenly Father is compassionate.

 

John ODonohue puts it well: May your compassion awaken. / May you learn to recover the self/ You were before you lost your way/And draw from its depths/ Some balm to heal your wounds.

 

Ailbe brought that compassion to the many apostolates he undertook during his 47 years of priesthood.

 

He was born on July 19^th 1937 in Castlerea, Co Roscommon. At the age of 19 he entered the novitiate of the Passionist Congregation at St Gabriels Retreat, The Graan, the very same building where he died over 52 years later.

 

After the novitiate he studied in Dankeith in Scotland for two years before coming as a student to Mount Argus in 1959. He was ordained a priest on 22^nd December 1962.

 

After ordination he worked in Scotland in Dankeith and Drom Mohr until 1969. In that year he came to his beloved Ardoyne. It was the start of the worst period in the history of that parish and Ailbe dedicated his life to helping those suffering parishioners for 14 years without a break. He gave his all and will never be forgotten by those who experienced his selfless dedication. Just before Christmas he told me that the happiest years of his life were those when he mixed mortar, with Fr Fernando, to help re-build the houses which had been burned down in 1969. It was the only time I felt I was doing something really practical as a priest, he said.

 

In 1983 he came as Parish Vicar to Mount Argus where, as well as his parish duties, he helped in the Restoration of Mount Argus church and monastery until 1989.In the early 90s he worked in Africa, and as chaplain to the Royal Hospital in Glasgow. In 1996 he came to The Graan for four years, before returning to Scotland to work in Prestonpans parish. It was there he fell ill for the first time in 2004. After major surgery and a period of convalescence he returned to The Graan where he remained until his death on the 28^th January 2010.

 

He enjoyed life immensely. He loved sport, the open air and above all the sea. He liked nothing better than to drive through Connemara into his beloved west of Ireland. He is being buried on the feast of St Brigid, the first day of spring, a sign of new life. He would be quietly pleased.

 

He loved music of all kinds but especially story songs. We've had to copy every recording by the Statler Brothers for him and his ultimate hero was the Nashville storyteller Tom T Hall, and it wasnt only because he wrote of the legendary Clayton Delaney.

 

Ailbe was loved everywhere he ministered. He noticed and cared about the vulnerable and they recognised a kindred soul in him. He made a special effort to look after families with small children. Children were delighted to see him on the altar. He was a Passionist through and through who based his spirituality on the Divine Office and the Mass. In his last years he was asked to share the Passion in a special way. It was not the way he would have chosen but it was the way he grew to accept.

 

There is no better way to remember Ailbe than through the words of his favourite hymn

Ag Criost an Siol.

Ag Crost an sol, ag Crost an fmhar;

in iothlainn D go dtugtar sinn.

Ag Crost an mhuir, ag Crost an t-iasc;

lonta D go gcastar sinn.

 

 fhs go haois,  aois go bs,

do dh limh, a Chrost, anall tharainn.

 

 bhs go croch nach croch ach athfhs,

i bParthas na ngrs go rabhaimid.

 

To Christ the seed, to Christ the crop,

in barn of Christ may we be brought.

To Christ the sea, to Christ the fish,

in nets of Christ may we be caught.

 

From growth to age, from age to death,

Thy two arms here, O Christ, about us.

 

From death to end, not end but growth,

in blessed Paradise may we be.

 

The Passionist Community and our co-workers at The Graan, and Ailbes family would like to thank you for being with us today at this Mass of Thanksgiving for the wonderful life and many gifts of our dear friend Ailbe. We would also like to thank in particular the nurses and staff of the Graan Abbey Nursing Home; to Dr Meade and the medical team in Enniskillen Health Centre, as well as the doctors, nurses and staff at Erne Hospital.