Callinan, Fr Jack
March 20, 2012I do not claim to have known him well - but then I don't think anyone can - for Fr Jack was a shy retiring man who shunned attention and was happier in the company of a few rather than the many. To me his outstanding quality was his fundamental decency - his human kindness - an undervalued quality which he had in abundance.
In a rare moment one Christmas I remember him telling me of his great regret. That regret was that he felt the Maynooth of his time had deprived him of the mental freedom to think for himself. His human kindness ensured that this was a burden he would never impose on those who sat before him and listened to his words. Even in the 1980s and 90s when controversy and referenda beset the Church, Fr Jack would offer his view and conclude by saying, "Well that is what I think." What he was not saying was "I trust your God given intelligence enough to allow you to draw your own conclusions." To me this mirrored a courage that many never saw in this shy and private man - a courage I believe he never saw in himself.
Fr Jack served as curate in the parishes of Modeligo, Aglish, Carrick-on-Suir, Ballybrickenand Tramore. He was appointed as Parish Priest of Butlerstown in July 1981 and served the parish until he retired in July 1999. He was a dedicated priest fulfilled and happy in his vocation and was committed to the care of his parishioners.
Bishop Lee, in his homily at the Requiem Mass for Fr Jack, said: "We will remember him for his devotion to his priestly duties, his prayer, his celebration of Mass and the sacraments, his attention to the sick people of the parish and all the many things that make up the daily routine of a priest."
Bishop Lee also spoke of his pioneering work in establishing the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council (now Accord) in the Diocese where his wisdom, humanity and knowledge served him well. The Bishop said, "I got to know Jackie in that capacity as I had a similar task in the diocese of Cashel and Emly. I knew him as a tireless worker ensuring that the new organisation was built on solid foundations. He was innovative, ensuring that the CMAC had all the modern tools to assist it in its work. His nurturing and support of the counsellors was admirable. Along with the counsellors, he travelled right through the Diocese helping to prepare couples for the lifelong commitment of marriage. And I'm sure that so many married couples today have good reason to be truly grateful to him for touching their lives in such a positive way at the very start of their lives together."
Bishop Lee also recalled Fr. Jackie's education ministry "He delivered adult education lectures in social science at venues throughout the diocese. And many people particularly during the time he ministered in the towns of Carrick-on-Suir and Tramore remember him for his dedication to the secondary school pupils in those towns. Regularly he visited the schools and took religion classes with the different grades."
Fr Jackie too was an accomplished sportsman. He was a great athlete - an accomplished half-miler. As a hurler he played on his class team during his time in Maynooth. That love of the GAA remained with him right through is life and he was always interested in and a great supporter of Waterford hurling. He liked his regular game of golf.
His hospitality and sense of humour were not always immediately evident to those he met; his shyness masked a keen theological mind - but his humility, personal warmth and human kindness endeared him to the hearts of the many he ministered to.
Fr. Jackie is survived by his sisters, Sr Sheila, Veronica and Patricia, his brothers, Tim, Billy and Frank, his brothers in law and sisters in law, nephews, nieces and family.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis - Jay Shanahan
- Courtesy of Waterford News and Star, 20th March 2012 Tweet
