FR SEAMUS O'NEILL RIP

It was with the deepest sorrow that we learned this week that our great friend and parishioner, Fr Seamus O’Neill passed away in the Nursing Home at Dalgan Park, Navan at the age of 92. His funeral was held on Thursday morning (21 August) in the place where Fr Seamus studied to be a Missionary of St Columban, was ordained a priest on 21 December 1956 and after a lifetime in the service of the Lord on the missions and latterly at home in Ireland, returned to spend the last couple of years of his life, alongside his Columban brothers.

We have been blessed over all these years that he maintained his close connection with the parish of Ballinascreen. Fr Seamus was generous with his time. All of us, priests and people could turn to him and take him into our confidence.

At daily Mass and especially at the weekend Sunday Masses, he broke the Word of God for us and we would leave Mass having been nourished and fed with God’s Word and the Eucharist. Fr Seamus belonged to the Missionary Society of St Columban and like his fellow Columbans was fearless in his love for the poor and the marginalised.

He was a committed follower of Jesus, a true fisherman indeed like the first disciples, and spent his life bringing the compassionate face of his Saviour to everyone he met.

To his family, brother Colm, sisters Maire and Gemma, his sister-in-law Rosemary and brother in law Brian, his nieces and nephews and their families we offer our condolences and thank them so much for sharing Fr Seamus with us. We felt he was part of us too. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.