Message Board 2018

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Peter Prof McMurray

Jan 3, 2018 - 4:15AM

Happy 2018 to all

Hi Again. Fencing continues in the blazing sun. I am determined to keep his cattle out and my sheep in. Last year I said how great the bypass was. OOPS! it gave up a fortnight later. Another lights and music trip in the fancy taxi. Another Stent. Still rocking on though. I have almost finally ceased programming. Thanks to the wonder of the internet I rarely have to visit these days. An 800 Km trip to Griffith in the Riverina in October was probably my last longish drive. How times change! Hire cars used to cost so much I parked a car in Melbourne foe many years now it costs $27.50 a day and the petrol for the trip costs 3 times as much.
Best Wishes to all from Tasmania

Jan 3rd, 2018 - 4:15 AM

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Mike Mearns

Dec 20, 2017 - 2:56AM

Interesting discussion

http://www.catholica.com.au/forum/index.php?id=206994

Thanks, Prof, for leading me to this dynamic website.
I find the military comparison intriguing. "Obey or suffer discomfort" was an efficient control method.
One of the postings posits: the study of sociology,as the reason for the seventies' exodus of priests. I tend to agree with the poster.
Peace to all Pelicans, everywhere.
Mike.

Dec 20th, 2017 - 2:56 AM

Mike Mearns

Jan 5, 2018 - 5:37PM

Re: Interesting discussion

Here is another interesting article:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/priesthood-catholicism-celibacy-love-religion-a8125086.html

I wonder if anybody else can relate to this account. The realization that we did not want celibacy but we wanted to serve was the conflict that could only be happily resolved by leaving - either the seminary or the ministry. Kay, my wife of 48 years, remarked early on in our marriage " if priests could be married, you would be a priest." As it turned out, after much travel and life experience, I became a nurse and an activist for the improvement of nurses' working conditions.
Go figure!
None of what I write in any way indicates dissatisfaction with my time spent with the WFs. I am the sum of my experiences and have very few regrets about any of them. I hope all Pelicans are able to make the same affirmation. I found the remark about the empty place at table and no comment about the departure most poignant.
All the best,
Mike.

Jan 5th, 2018 - 5:37 PM

John (Jock) Halloran

Feb 15, 2018 - 5:08PM

Re: Interesting discussion

Fascinating. Since leaving the WF (I was at The Priory and later Blacklion in the late 50s and early 60s with some lovely lads, many of who would have made outstanding priests). I have often thought I too would be a priest today had the celibacy rule not applied. My wife would have supported me in eactly the same way as she has done in my businesses for the 54 years since we met. For my sins, I have long been a student of the history of the Catholic Church and hope I can make a small contribution to this discussion. The embargo on priests marrying has its roots in the days when priests, especially bishops and above, accumulated great wealth through bequests of property from grateful, mostly wealthy patrons, usually in exchange for guarantees of being fast-tracked to Heaven. Sadly, this also applied to the practice of Simony and the sale of indulgences. Naturally, the Church did not wish this wealth to disappear upon the death of the priest and so the rule of Chastity became ensconched within the system. I am sure no-one would argue that the underlying argument against married priests no longer applies and yet there are no signs of any relaxation of the rule. What a waste - in my case they would have got twice the priest rather than no priest at all.
By the way, I have been trying to get in contact with Mike Mearns, a man of whom I was extremely fond back in the days of those "happy highways where we cannot come again". I sincerely hope he sees this and gets in touch.
John (Jock) Halloran
The spy who is yet to come in from the cold.

Feb 15th, 2018 - 5:08 PM

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Vincent O'Neill

Mar 16, 2018 - 9:04PM

Death of Roberto Bellani

Recently I learnt of the death of Roberto. I had not heard from him last Christmas and I was surprised and saddened to find that he had died on the 12th of March 2017. Roberto died in hospital in Bergamo. He is survived by his wife Caterina and son Alessandro.

Many Pelicans may remember him from his time in Broomehall(1968/69) and in Totteridge 1969-1973.

After Ordination, Roberto worked at the Istituto di Studi Arabi e d'Islamistica (PISAI) and in recent years at the Centro Studi sulle Culture del Mondo Arabo.

There are tributes to him from both organisations to be found on their websites, in Italian. May he rest in peace.

Vincent

Mar 16th, 2018 - 9:04 PM

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Danny O’Hagan

Apr 5, 2018 - 4:30PM

John (Jock) Halloran.

Just had message from Jill to tell me John died yesterday 4th Aptil. We had only recently been on touch and I had hoped to visit him in Yorkshire later in the summer. He had let me know he was terminally ill and unfortunately time ran out! We exchanged a couple of emails and he passed on some information about his life history on leaving the WF’s. He seems to have lead a very colourful life! I have no doubt he will be fondly remembered and sadly missed!

Apr 5th, 2018 - 4:30 PM

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Robbie Dempsey

Apr 8, 2018 - 9:53PM

Seven Steps

Hi folks,

I used to use a different email address many years ago
so I was recently having a look over some forgotten messages.

I remember having many exchanges of info with Eugene MacBride
and I met him and wife Zelda many times - including a Sunday
walk around Galley Down ( approx 2005/6 ) !

Anyway he had obtained that film for the Pelicans which is called:
Seven Steps to the Altar
this was sent to Bernard Melling for 'extraction off tape' and conversion
to a format for the web. Bernard did a great job.

See also some stills on Gallery photo pages 222/223.

I happened to ask Eugene about the ordinations and he sent me the
following email: (08-Jul-2006)

Dear Robbie:
The ordinations took place at Jedburgh (Archbishop MacDonald) on 3 June 1949.
You can see John D. Conway and Pierce J. English being ordained to the diaconate.
I was at St Mary's Galashiels on 1 June 1950, a year later. when Bp Scanlan made
them priests. Conway sang a magnificent Veni Creator.
Ask me another.
Eugene.

Apr 8th, 2018 - 9:53 PM

Celia Bermingham

May 13, 2018 - 3:07PM

Re: Seven Steps

The men who were shown being ordained in "Seven Steps" were the group who had been interned in France. My brother KEVIN WISEMAN was one of them.

Recently I had a very good meal with friends in ROSSINGTON HALL, which is a splendid hotel. A photo of these men with Fr. Howell, Provincial, is hung in the entrance Hall of the Hotel.

I was last in ROSSINTON HALL in 1945.

May 13th, 2018 - 3:07 PM

Robbie Dempsey

May 14, 2018 - 3:06PM

Re: Seven Steps

Dear Celia,
Many thanks for your message. Indeed, many thanks for your wonderful collection of photos
displayed at the Pelicans [Gallery] pages 157-160. I thought I knew 'nothing' about Rossington
Hall but know I see that Fr. Stan Lea was in charge of the move there from Autreppe in 1939
(see his obituary in obits page 13). I was at the Priory when he was Fr. Superior there in 1967.
Also Fr Tom O'Donnell was our Fr. Superior at St. Columba's in 1959/60. So there are many of us
who recall their amazing story. Your brother tells it well here at [Histories] on page 9.
Robbie.

May 14th, 2018 - 3:06 PM

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John Greene

Sep 10, 2018 - 10:45PM

Todays Visit to Loughan House

I got a great suprise today when returning to duty as I was introduced to a group of men and one lady who were paying a visit to Loughan House.The lead guy was Pat Mc Dermott who had two fellow ex students from St Augustine's with him I think Robbie and Robert (The Playwrites of the Loughan Christmas Pantomines as they informed me).Its a small world as I introduced myself as John Greene (nephew of Bud Greene) and now currently the longest serving member of the Irish Prison Service at Loughan House (almost 26 years).So at this stage there is not much of Bro Paddys grass that I dont know.As being the only Greene now remaining in Blacklion (aprt from one Aunt Johnny the Butchers wife) I have a great affection to the place which was formerly St Augustines and remember coming there as a young lad to Christmas Pantomines and later Youth Clubs in the later days of the college.I have memories of some of the White Fathers of the time and I know my late Aunt was a great part of the community there and held in high regard by all who went through its doors.As I am now in my final year of service if there is anything I can contribute to this website (that Pat and friends informed me off) then I would only be too delighted.One guy that I would appreciate a contact for if anyone would have it is Maurice Cunnigham who from my last memory went Stateside.Hopefully I can meet some more of the ex St Augustine's lads in the not too distant future.I am sure Bud would want me to keep up the contact with most of you.I may not be able to provide as much Apple Tart as when she was around.

Yours for now with Best Wishes from Loughan House.

John Greene Blacklion and Sligo currently serving in Loughan House as a Prison Officer.

Sep 10th, 2018 - 10:45 PM

Robbie Dempsey

Sep 15, 2018 - 12:53AM

Re: Todays Visit to Loughan House

Dear John - it was nice to meet you last Monday (10-Sep-2018)
at Loughan House. There are a few places at this website where
your auntie 'Bud' is remembered, especially 'Blacklion Revisited'
by John Byrne. Also many pics show Maurice Cunningham.
See mention of both in GALLERY page 207. Best wishes, Robbie Dempsey.

Sep 15th, 2018 - 12:53 AM

Mike Mearnsmearnskm@telus.net

Sep 20, 2018 - 2:24AM

Re: Todays Visit to Loughan House

John and Robbie,
Having just read your posts I was taken back to my time at the Black. The last visit I made was in 1993 with my wife Kay and son Liam. We were admitted readily and shown around by a guard named Mick. We visited my room 1959-60, overlooking the Lough and the head-butting rams in the field. It was a shock to enter the room unannounced and find the THREE occupants. The chapel was a revelation as that part of the building was just the furnace and the mud room when I departed in 1961. I must talk to Liam and ask him if the memory of the razor wire fence and the miasma of body odour helped to keep him on the straight and narrow through his late teens and early twenties - the danger years for males!
With Robbie referring to John's "auntie" - Bud, I remembered her and realized that Bud was just that to so many Pelicans. She was our young aunt or in some circumstances big sister - the one you were excited to see when she visited. Her catering was was a change from the normal fare at the college, delicious as it was. What fun it was to turn into Bud's after a day out in the hills and know a cup of tea was to hand together with a warm welcome.
We visited with Bud after the jail and had a cuppa and talked over the old times. May she rest in peace.
That was a pleasant reminiscence. Have you got any more, Pelicans?

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Patrick Crowley

Sep 25, 2018 - 10:28PM

Fr David Leigh

I wonder is anybody in contact with Fr. David Leigh, or knows of his whereabouts. I presume he is now retired. He was active in Ghana in the 1970s. I'd very much like to get back in contact with him, and I'd greatly appreciate any help.

Thanks in advance!

Patrick

Sep 25th, 2018 - 10:28 PM

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Maurice Billingsley

Oct 17, 2018 - 3:15PM

150 years on - save the date

Fr Chris Wallbank has sent an invitation to the Pelicans to attend Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Heston, for 11.30 Eucharist on 9th December to honour the 150 years of the Missionaries of Africa and the Missionary Sisters of our Lady of Africa. The official invitation will no doubt appear on these pages as soon as soon.

Please share this message with any Pelican you feel may have missed it.

See you there,

Maurice.

Oct 17th, 2018 - 3:15 PM