The list of clerical changes for the Diocese of Clogher, which were officially announced by Bishop Joseph Duffy this week, is headed by the retirement as Parish Priest of Enniskillen of Monsignor Sean Cahill, VG. He will continue as vicar general and administrator of St Michael's Diocesan and Education Trusts. Initially, he will live in the priest's house in Lisbellaw and, thereafter, in Maguiresbridge.
Taking over from him as the new Parish Priest of Enniskillen is Fr Joseph McGuinness, who will also assume the title vicar general. Ironically, both are ex-Presidents of the two diocesan colleges, Mgr Cahill of St Macartan's, Monaghan and Fr McGuinness, St Michael's.
Speaking to the 'Herald' this week, Mgr Cahill welcomed Fr McGuinness as Parish Priest of St Michael's Parish. He is well-known to past pupils of St Michael's College and to many of the parishioners as he was previously involved in St Michael's Parish as organist and choir director.
ORDINATION
It was back 26 years ago that Mgr Cahill made the same journey, taking over from Dean Patrick Flanagan. Prior to that, from his ordination in 1960 until '81, he was based in St Macartan's College where he taught French and, where he ended up as college President for seven years. He is a native of Monaghan town and is one of a family of five boys. His brother, Fr Martin served as curate in The Rock, Ballyshannon, where he died in 1988.
So, what of his new appointment? - 'I'm looking forward to it, and hope to remain active, catching up on many things which I have been unable to do in Enniskillen, and maybe read some of my books. I will bring with me some of the tasks in relation to diocesan trusts and education, and I hope to be involved in the pastoral life of Maguiresbridge".
He recalled his arrival in Enniskillen, his first pastoral appointment outside teaching and his first experience of Enniskillen and Fermanagh.
"In the beginning", he said, "it was a very new beginning for me but, over the Winter and Spring of 1981/82, I came to realise what a beautiful and pleasant place Enniskillen was in which to live and work".
He also recalled some of the priests who had served with him in Enniskillen as Curates had now been appointed Parish Priests themselves. In fact, he taught some of them in St Macartan's.
"I am most grateful", he said, "to all those priests who in the past served with me in Enniskillen and I especially thank the present team, Fr Noel McGahan, Fr Owen Gorman and I wish Fr Brendan Gallagher well in his appointment as Parish Priest of Cúl Máine".
But, it's the inspiration that he and his fellow priests in Enniskillen derived from the people that he stressed.
"I enjoyed teaching, but I must say my 26 years in Enniskillen have been enormously satisfying and fulfiling experiences. It has been a real privilege to share the faith journey of families, both in the celebrations and achievements of life, and in the heartbreaks and sorrows too.
"I have been enormously moved by the sheer goodness of people, young and old, and by their warmth, even in difficult circumstances'.
On a global scale, that inherent goodness came to the fore in the aftermath of the Enniskillen bomb of 1987, with the whole-hearted support of the clergy and laity from all the Christian churches in the town.
"Nothing could have prepared us for that dark day. I remember the sense of utter desolation. At the same time, the dignity of those who suffered, the immortal words of Gordon Wilson, and the coming together of the people of Enniskillen enabled us to survive. I have always believed that the response to the bombing in Enniskillen was, in some way, the beginning of the end of violence".
NEW ARRIVALS
In those 26 years, the St Michael's parish has grown out of all recognition: new shopping centres, new housing estates, care and nursing homes and, of course, the Erne hospital where the priests of the parish have a special commitment to the spiritual needs of the sick and their families.
But, despite the town's upward and onward development, Mgr Cahill said the town retained, 'a great sense of welcome for new arrivals in the parish'
"I'm thinking of the Indian community and those from eastern Europe, especially the Polish community who have integrated so well into the community and play a very active part in the life of the parish".
He went on: "Of course, the greatest gift any people can give their priest is to support him in is faith and in his priesthood. Over the years, we priests have experienced this support in so many ways in the parish: from the sick and housebound in their devotion and courage, the crowds of people who come daily to 10 o'clock Mass, the constant stream of people who visit St Michael's Church every day, the effort people make to come to Sunday Mass, especially the elderly and parents with young children".
He also alluded to the dedication of the staffs in the schools in the parish which, he said, made the schools such vibrant part of parish life, and also, the generous involvement of so many lay people in al parish ministries and organisations and, the whole-hearted support of the people of the parish for every project, for instance the renovation of St Michael's Church and the building of the new St Fanchea's College.
Mgr Cahill referred to the decline in the number of priests and the greater need for coordination among lay ministries.
"Thank God", he said, "we have two young men in the diocese who will begin to prepare for priesthood this year. We need more priests. There are many young men in this parish, and some not so young, whose faith and generosity I appreciate. So, as I enter the twilight years, I invite these younger men to listen to God's call. There could be no more fulfiling vocation than to joyfully support people on their faith journey, and I have no doubt that the support and encouragement of the lay people will be there for them".
