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It's Farewell to Fr. George

Posted Monday, August 13, 2007

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Fr. George departs the scene

The Congregation were close to tears last Sunday as Fr. George preached his last sermon - which was about his departure.

It's understood he wasn't too happy about the manner of it and the handling it.

It seems that the new appointment was made before he knew anything about it.

He will be continue to live locally in Drumaweir.

Final Sermon

At the end of his final sermon the congregation burst into spontaneous applause, which is unusual in a church and he tried his best to dampen it down.

According to someone present many of the congregation were holding back tears as he announced the end of his tenure.

His departure was very sudden.

Spoke Recently

I spoke to Fr George recently when he said that he heard that the DylanFest had gone very well - although he added somewhat tantilisingly that some people had wondered what was behind it.

I remember seeing him late last summer outside the shop in Greencastle when I was having a short break cycling to Stroove.

It was just after the time that the priest from Derry had caught Legionnaire's Disease at the Cartlon swimming pool.

Feeling Guilty

I don't know how the conversation got there but I advised him to stay well away from the pool in Redcastle as it was highly dangerous for priests.

At that he said he felt a bit guilty - as it was he that actually recommended the Derry priest to go there.

I remember him also giving a very humourous speech at the christening of my nephew Ross Hamilton at Ballybrack.

Strange

It will seem strange for the congrgation for him not to be there after so long. He was an insitution - but he will still, I'm sure, be seen out and about from his new home in Drumaweir.

I wonder if he has any hobbies.

I remember John Lennon saying after the split up of The Beatles that he thought to himself "What do you do after you have been a Beatle".

It must be similar for Parish Priests. What do you do after you've been a Parish Priest?

New Priest

His successor Fr O'Kane will be starting very shortly.

He is originally from Culdaff but he has been in Derry recently and has been appointed by Derry's Bishop Hegarty.