The Bishop of Down and Connor has spoken of the vulnerability of priests following the brutal attack on Canon John Murray in the sacristy of St Patrick’s Church, Downpatrick.
After celebrating mass for the bereaved in the town, where the alleged assailant killed a man before brutally assaulting Canon Murray, Bishop McGuckian called for courage in “terrible circumstances”.
He told The Irish Catholic that it was “very poignant” that the parish priest had agreed, before mass. to hear the confession of a man who then viciously assaulted him with a wine bottle.
“Canon Murray made himself vulnerable and invited the person aside into privacy for the sacrament, for ministry. It was then that he was attacked and I understand that priests will feel, ‘My goodness, are we all vulnerable all of the time?’ But I know that priestly sense of being there, and wanting to be available and wanting to reach out will always trump that!
“And I say to my priests as I say to everyone else. Take courage and do not be afraid.”
Bishop McGuckian sought to comfort a congregation of around 400 which included members of the Murray family as well as the parents and sister of the murdered man, Stephen Brannigan.
He referred to the Gospel message in Matthew’s Gospel when Jesus comes to the frightened disciples in a storm.
He said it is easier said than done to “take heart” in times of “great fear” when we ask “what is going on?”
He said that those closest to Stephen Brannigan and Canon Murray must “feel a terrible sense of uncertainty like walking on water”.
“The disciples in the boat – who were facing heavy waves, and strong winds and had just, as they believed, seen a ghost – must have felt: ‘This is ridiculous – how are we not to fear? We could be going down. We feel we have seen a ghost and we are invited to have courage.”
And he added: “We are called to hear the words. ‘Courage it is I!’ Do not be afraid.’”
At the close of mass, Fr Maurice Henry, who anointed Canon Murray after the attack, expressed sympathy to the families of all involved and also thanked all those who had offered support and prayer.
In a poignant moment, Fr Henry remembered the alleged assailant and his family who, he said, are also suffering in the close knit community. “They are devastated like all of us with what has happened. They send their best wishes to the family.”
It was revealed that the father of the deceased victim went to the father of the alleged assailant, who has been detained by police.
Bishop McGuckian described this as a “moment of real grace”.
Canon Murray is recovering well and now in comfortable condition after 48 hours spent in serious condition.
