Séamus Ahearne: Chris Fitzgerald with Balaam’s far-seeing eye, Butch Cassidy and Shortening the Road…
BALAAM AND HIS ASS:
Balaam is an interesting character, and very strange. (The Bible). His donkey seems more sensible and more attractive than he does. One descriptive line for Balaam, amuses me. ‘His far-seeing eyes.’ (Numbers 24: 2-7, 15-17.) We had Chris Fitzgerald’s Funeral during the week. I don’t, in any way, suggest a shared personality between Balaam and Chris. But the far-seeing eyes do come to mind. The Funeral made me very nostalgic. It stirred up many memories. Chris had a very varied life. He got very involved in Rome with the FAO girls and created a Forum for them to meet in St Pat’s (Via Piemonte) in Rome. He went to Nigeria and became one of the founding Community of a Seminary at Jos in Northern Nigeria. Himself, Tom Flynn, Ben O’Brien and Ott O’Keeffe. Would I have put them together? No. This Seminary has flourished.
SHOP STREET, DROGHEDA:
Somewhat later, Chris arrived in Drogheda. We were a motley team in Shop Street. Jim Kiely was the guru of the time in that Community and something very different was happening there. Our imaginations were waking up. And the church became a Mecca.
BETTER WORLD MOVEMENT:
Chris then disappeared to Ecuador. Once again, he became quite a leading figure out there in Chone, and throughout the Portoviejo Diocese (Manabi.) He was a driving force in setting up The Better World Movement with their messengers and messages linking all the Communities. Chris was also the inspiration in setting up a major hospital in Chone. Which is called after him. An extraordinary story.
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID:
In more recent years, he came back to Ireland and lived in Ballyboden. He lost his sight. It is rather ironic that this man – with his far-seeing eyes, should lose his vision. That phrase from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Film), is applicable. “Boy, I got vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals”. Chris could have claimed that as his own. I’m not doing an Obituary for Chris. Others are better informed to do this. I am scribbling something of the nostalgia, evoked by his Funeral.
THE SURPRISES OF NIGERIA:
I found myself recalling those early Augustinians who went out to Nigeria in 1940. John Berchmans Power, PJ Dalton and Gabriel Broder and now there are over 100 Augustinians (we are fewer here in Ireland). I remember visiting Nigeria about 36 years ago. It was the Golden Jubilee of Yola Diocese. I was amazed to see what had happened over those 50 years. The liveliness of the faith. The passionate nature of the Liturgy. The inspiration of God-celebrations everywhere. The length of the Masses. The singing. The dancing. The bringing up the gifts. I was surprised as I reflected on many of the missionaries. Ordinary men. Doing extraordinary work. And somehow God was dancing about everywhere.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS:
When I returned to my then ‘home’ in England, the life of faith seemed very sober and staid. But it was the miracle of life that I had experienced, which stirred me. It was the miracle of life in Chris too that surprised me. Dickens was right – Great Expectations, should be, could be, might be, has to be, our assessment of others. (I use the idea, rather than delve into the meanderings of Pip!)
GOBAN SAOR – SHORTEN THE ROAD:
Yes. I found myself thinking of those who were in school with me. (And I went digging to find them online). Those who stayed with us for a time in the Order. Those I have met in so many places. Those who have done unexpected things and surprised us all. Those who have held onto faith and those who have wandered away. Those who have died. Those who were visionaries. Those who were mavericks and did mighty things. Those who have been bold in their thinking, and did dream. Those who were friends and companions on the journey. Those who created poetry and music in life. Those who brought/bring God alive every day. Those who shine a light where there is darkness.
COMPANIONS ON A JOURNEY:
Those who have the stamina of faith. Those who do the unthinkable. Those who dream the dreams, and have the guts, to pay the price to make such dreams come true. Those who use their imaginations. Those who catch the laughter in life, and share it. Those who brighten up the world by their presence. Those who are old but full of youthfulness. Those who are careless and carefree. Those who tease, taunt and tantalise. Those who help us/me to see. Those who inspire us/me by putting the spirit in us/me. Those who are givers and not takers. Those who are a smile on the face of God; the sacrament of the every day.
FAR-SEEING EYES:
Yes. Balaam might be named as a man with far-seeing eye. He may have been an unlikely hero. He may have been a scoundrel in many ways. But those eyes took him from ‘cursing’ to ‘blessing.’ My wish, my prayer, is that it happens for all of us. We bless and are blessed. Chris’ funeral tickled my memory and the stories emerged. Chris did very well. Many of those characters in the privileged life of ministry, have done well for us and for me. I am blessed. Mary Oliver’s line: “I have only to stand where I am, to be blessed.” It is true. The miracle is in the ordinary. The place. The people. The moment. We are very blessed. As Pádraig Daly said: “Who can disbelieve a world drenched in miracle?” We are truly all Diviners! With the twig of adventure. Some have the gift. Some use it! Chris did.
Seamus Ahearne osa 12th March 2026.