1931 2016 St. Colmcille s Church, Skryne, Tara 17th August, 2016 Celebrant: Bishop Michael Smith
Fr Joe Gleeson A native of Kilcormac parish, Fr Gleeson was born in September 1931. He was educated at St Finian's College, Mullingar and St Patrick's College, Maynooth and ordained on 22 June 1958. He was on loan to the Diocese of Ossory where he served as curate in St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny from 1958 until 1965. He then served as curate in Tullamore from 1965 until 1976, commencing his ministry in Laytown in January 1977. During his time there, the new church was built and in September 1986 when Laytown was established as a new parish with Mornington, he was appointed as Administrator in Laytown/Bettystown/Mornington. Fr Gleeson was appointed Parish Priest of Skryne/Rathfeigh in 1987 and retired in 2006.
Entrance Hymn Holy God Holy God we praise thy name Lord of all we bow before thee All on earth thy sceptre own All in heaven above adore thee. Endless is thy vast domain Everlasting is thy reign. Hark with loud and pealing hymn Thee, the angel choirs are praising Cherubim and Seraphim One unceasing chorus raising Ever sing with sweet accord Holy, Holy, Holy Lord. Spare thy people, Lord, we pray, by a thousand snares surrounded; keep up without sin today; never let us be confounded. Lo, I put my trust in thee Never, Lord, abandon me. All: All: All: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And with your spirit. My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins. I confess to Almighty God
All: May almighy God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life. Amen Lord have mercy All: Lord have mercy Christ have mercy All: Christ have mercy Lord have mercy All: Lord have mercy Opening Prayer P. O God, almighty Father Our faith professes that your Son died and rose again; mercifully grant, that through this mystery your servant Fr Joe, who has fallen asleep in Christ, may rejoice to rise again through him. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. All: Amen Liturgy of the Word First Reading: A reading from the Book of Job 19:1. 23-27 Job said: Ah, would that these words of mine were written down, inscribed on some monument with iron chisel and engraving tool cut into the rock for ever. This I know: that my Avenger lives, and he, the Last, will take his stand on earth. After my awaking, he will set me close to him and from my flesh I shall look on God. He whom I shall see will take my part:
these eyes will gaze on him and find him not aloof. The word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God Responsorial Psalm Refrain: Aillelú, Aillelú, Aillelú, mo Shlánaitheoir. 'S Tú mo Dhia, 's mé do ghiolla. Aillelú-mo chroí go deo. (Repeat) Mo ghrá-sa mo Dhia. Mo ghárda mo liaigh. Mo ghrá-geal. Mo Thiarna. Mo ghrá mo Chríost. Mo ghrá mo chroí. Mo ghrá ar fad thú a Rí na glóire. Aillelú, Aillelú, Aillelú, mo Shlánaitheoir. 'S Tú mo Dhia, 's mé do ghiolla. Aillelú-mo chroí go deo. Mo ghrá-sa go húird. Naomh tha id chúirt Mo ghrá-sa do chroí, is do cló geal. Mo ghrá-sa do thread. Is fada do sead. Mo ghrá, mo shoil-se, mo neart mo Rí. Aillelú, Aillelú, Aillelú, mo Shlánaitheoir. 'S Tú mo Dhia, 's mé do ghiolla. Aillelú-mo chroí go deo. (Repeat)
Second Reading: A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteousness judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but to all who have longed for his appearing. The word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, Alleluia! Speak Lord, your servant is listening You have the words of everlasting life. Alleluia Gospel: All: All: The Lord be with you. And with your spirit A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 10:11-16 Glory to you, Lord. The good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep Jesus said: I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock and one shepherd. The Gospel of the Lord. All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Prayers of the Faithful 1. We pray for Father Joe today; it is a great comfort to us that he is back with his mother and father again. May he be eternally happy in heaven. Lord hear us. All: Lord graciously hear us 2. Father Joe had two great friends in Father Willie and Father Seán. He was looking forward to meeting with them again. May all three be rewarded with the gift of eternal life for all their services to their parishes. Lord, hear us. All: Lord graciously hear us 3. We pray for deceased members of the Gleeson family, his mother Margaret, his father Joseph and his brother Michael, may they rest in peace. All: Lord graciously hear us 4. We pray for all who cared for Father Gleeson, his faithful housekeeper, Ita, the parishioners of Skryne and Rathfeigh, who cared for him and the staff of the Mater Hospital. May God continue to bless them. Lord, hear us. All: Lord graciously hear us
5. We pray for all those in the congregation this morning who have lost loved ones. May their faith be a consolation to them that we will all meet up again, where there will be no more sorrow or pain. Lord, hear us. All: Lord graciously hear us Liturgy of the Eucharist Offertory Hymn: The Bells of the Angelus The bells of the Angelus Are calling to pray, In sweet tones announcing The Sacred Ave Refrain: Ave, Ave, Ave Maria Ave, Ave, Ave Maria An angel of mercy Led Bernadette s feet Where flows the deep torrent Our Lady to greet. Refrain: Ave, Ave, Ave Maria Ave, Ave, Ave Maria Prayer over the Gifts: As we humbly present to you these sacrificial offerings, O Lord, for the salvation of your servant Fr Joe, we beseech your mercy, that he who did not doubt your Son to be a loving Saviour, may find in him a merciful Judge. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. All: Amen
The Eucharistic Prayer The Lord be with you All: And with your spirit Lift up our hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right and just. It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord. In him the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned, that those saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come. Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling made ready for them in heaven. And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Memorial Acclamation Save us, Saviour of the world Save us, Saviour of the world For by your cross and resurrection You have set us free, you have set us free.
Ár nathair Ár n-athair atá ar neamh, Go naofar d'ainm, Go dtaga do ríocht, Go ndéantar do thoil ar an talamh mar a dhéantar ar neamh. Ár n-arán laethúil, tabhair dúinn inniu, agus maith dúinn ár bhfiacha mar a mhaithimidne dár bhféichiúna féin Is ná lig sinn í gcathú ach saor sinn ó olc. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. Communion Hymns Soul of My Saviour Soul of my Saviour sanctify my breast, Body of Christ, be thou my saving guest, Blood of my Saviour, bathe me in thy tide, Wash me ye waters streaming from his side. Strength and protection may his passion be, O blessed Jesus, hear and answer me; Deep in thy wounds, Lord, hide and shelter me, So shall I never, never part from thee. Guard and defend me from the foe malign, In death's dread moments make me only thine; Call me and bid me come to thee on high Where I may praise thee with thy saints for aye.
St. Patrick s Breastplate Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ before me today. Christ behind me, Christ to win me, Christ to guide me on my way. Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger, Christ be near me, Christ above me, Christ be with me today. Christ in resting, Christ in rising, Christ the Lord of my life. Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ my shield in the strife. Christ in ev'ry heart that is broken, Christ in ev'ry word as it's spoken. Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ before me today. There Is A Place There's a time for remembering, a time to recall The trials and the triumphs, the fears and the falls. There's a time to be grateful for moments so blest The jewels of our memory where love is our guest. There is gold that is gleaming in a past we once knew In our tears and our laughter, t'was love brought us through There's a road we have travelled where sunlight has kissed That carries us onwards when loved one's are missed. There is treasure in our fields, there is treasure in our skies There is treasure in our dreaming from the soul to the eye For wherever we gather in the light of God's grace And for all whom we remember there will ever be a place.
There's a promise of God that is written in the stars for all who may travel no matter how far. God will be your companion each journey you make In the shadow of loved ones to lighten your way. There is treasure in our fields, there is treasure in our skies, etc. In the quiet of the evening, at the close of the day We will rest on our journey, to the Lord we shall pray May we thank God for blessings, for moments we've shared As we seek for tomorrow, close by us you'll stay. There is treasure in our fields, there is treasure in our skies, etc. May God s Blessing May God s blessing surround you each day, As you trust him and walk in His way, May His presence within guard and keep you from sin, Go in peace, go in joy, go in love. May God s blessing surround you tonight, As you trust him and walk in His light, May His presence within guard and keep you from sin, Go in peace, go in joy, go in love. Communion Reflection Prayer After Communion Lord God, whose Son left us, in the Sacrament of his Body, food for the journey, mercifully grant that, strengthened by it, our brother Fr Joe, may come to the eternal table of Christ. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Concluding Rite Recessional Hymn Abide with me Abide with me, fast falls the eventide the darkness deepens, Lord with me abide When other helpers fail, and comforts flee Help of the helpless, O abide with me. Swift to its close, ebbs out life s little day earth s joys grow dim, its glories pass away. Change and decay in all around I see O thou who changest not Abide with me. I fear no foe with you at hand to bless, Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; shine through the gloom and point me to the skies; Heaven s morning breaks, and earth s vain shadows flee: In life, in death, O Lord, Abide with me. Salve Regina (in the graveyard) Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ, Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ, Ad te suspiramus Gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, Illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte; Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, Nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
A Reflection on Priesthood To live in the midst of the world with no desire for its pleasures. To be a member of every family, yet belonging to none; To share all sufferings, to penetrate all secrets, To heal all wounds; To daily go from people to God to offer him homage and petitions; To return from God to people to bring them His pardon and hope; To have a heart of fire for charity and a heart of bronze for chastity; To bless and be blest forever. O God, what a life, and it is yours, O Priest of Jesus Christ.