The Church of the future will only be vibrant if families on fire with their faith are willing to evangelise communities, Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown has said.
He was speaking at the funeral Mass of Fr Eugene Hasson (70), parish priest of Drumragh, Co. Tyrone, who died after a short illness. Remaking on the huge congregation of mourners – the 1,500-seat Sacred Heart Church in Omagh was packed with many people standing while others remained outside and many people watched on a livestream from the nearby parish centre – Bishop McKeown said: “over the past few days since the death of Fr Eugene, I’ve been struck by two things: firstly despite problems and big question marks over Church leadership going back for decades, there is still an amazing degree of loyalty to and gratitude for clergy and for their ministry.
“We’ve seen that in the vast numbers that have turned up…[and] that is especially true for the work that is done around illness or when disaster strikes.
“Secondly, I was very struck by the pride that this parish and other parishes have in rising to the occasion when one of their present or former priests dies.
“We’ve seen that over the past few days, and the amazing parish communities connected with the life and ministry of Fr Eugene. Despite disappointments, that ongoing desire for belonging and hope refuses to go away.
“I know we face a rapidly changing reality in this diocese, and in this country. Everywhere there is much distress in our world, with concern for the safety of our young people – not just in the streets, but online and even in their own homes,” he said.
It will be proclaimed by families and communities who love Jesus and still desire to be salt to the earth and light to the world”
Underlining Fr Hasson’s commitment to his 45 years in priestly ministry, Bishop McKeown encouraged people to emulate him and urged the congregation to pray for vocations that many young men will follow Fr Hasson and give their lives to God in the priesthood.
However, he said, “we realise that the Gospel will not be handed on merely from the pulpit at weekend Masses. It will be proclaimed by families and communities who love Jesus and still desire to be salt to the earth and light to the world – even when some will laugh at them”.
Fr Hasson, a native of Dungiven, Co. Derry, was ordained in 1980 and spent most of his 45 years of priesthood ministering in Co. Tyrone, including almost 30 years in Omagh.
