Séamus Ahearne…a house, a home, a life, a death…living and partly living 

A HOUSE AND A HOME: 

• I called in to see Christy. His garden is magnificent. The car always looks as if it should be in a Showroom. The house is perfect. Everything is in its place, and all so orderly. Walking in, I felt nervous lest I would even disturb the air. I smiled inwardly. My own house is rather different! Memories (of this family) came back. The daughter was severely disabled and died. The love around that girl was beautiful. On her funeral day – the hearse and cars stopped down on the Navan Road. It was raining. But the parents got out of the car and went over to all the young people in wheelchairs. What a special moment that was? The son-in-law died tragically. Then Christy’s wife died. Her dying was impressive. She was giving orders to Christy, up to the end. She made sure every drawer; every cupboard; ever wardrobe was in order. Everything was folded perfectly. Then the son was murdered.  

• Christy couldn’t stay in the house; it had too many memories. He was there every day, making sure the place remained perfect, as decreed by his wife. But he couldn’t sleep there. He then went to a Psychic Medium. The Medium told him the family history, and told him what his wife now wanted from him. He listened and had to listen. He accepted the command of his wife, and is now back in the house. I don’t know what you believe, or if you believe in such things; I am just delighted that Christy is back at home. He is happy. 

THE STORY SPEAKS: 

• Kieran O’Mahony died. His funeral was on Friday 21 August. Messages keep on arriving. His influence. His outreach. His inspiration. Touched so many. His breadth of view. His Scriptural knowledge. He was soaked in history; immersed in literature; at home in languages; musically alert and alive; culturally aware; archeologically sensitive. For Kieran, Scripture had layers of meaning. The Story had to be revealed. He cringed at easy interpretations or loose literal explanations. He was concerned at times, even at Pope Francis’ use (or misuse) of Scripture! Kieran was playful and mischievous as he meshed together all the ways God appeared to be speaking. 

• I admit to anger. That surprises me. But there is anger. I feel strongly that Kieran was needed to present an expansive view of Church and Faith. The wooden and prosaic way of presenting and celebrating faith, which often happens, goes totally against Kieran’s understanding. We needed him. We need him. We need today’s prophets. We need people who are inquisitive, but full of joy in the search for the God of today. We need people who are searching and restless, and who enjoy the wonder of the mystery. Who keep on delving into the speaking Word of God. The Church is dull without Kieran. He was at the end, speaking of the new journey and the new experience of being with God. And yes, I am angry. I should be fighting with God and do a ‘Job’ on it. I know God may come back at me with Chapter 38 of Job. And tell me how little I know. However. We needed and need more of Kieran. Maybe some of us didn’t make, a fuller use of the gift he was.  

SIXTY TWO YEARS!

• I did a funeral some months ago.  A message arrived afterwards. “You are a good priest and even a better human being.” I still don’t know how to take that. It amused me. Anyway. Yesterday was another anniversary. It was 62 years since I joined the Augustinians. Those many years have been so good. The ministry has been full of the miraculous. The friendships. The companionships. The communities. The teams. The opportunities. The challenges. The open doors into homes, (into lives)  and the honesty of the stories shared have been very humbling. Our Churches may not be very full, but the trust of people in letting us into the inner homes of life,is awesome.    

• I can’t say why. But Sunday Miscellany (RTÉ Radio 1 after 9 on a Sunday morning until 10) is a Programme that I seldom can hear.  I listen occasionally on my way to somewhere else. The stories are quite delightful. I have read some of these stories in the Books published every few years – edited by Sarah Binchy. I almost want Faith and Liturgy to be presented in that ‘story’ fashion. I want the music of faith to be shared. I want the poetry of God to be spread. I want such excitement to be part of us, as ministers. I want us to escape from the prison of the Rituals. Kieran O’Mahony did all of that. Not many of us can follow him but the example is worth exploring.  

Happy St Augustine’s Day. With a nod to the mother Monica!

Seamus Ahearne osa – For the 28 August 2026

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