Forty-four years ago last month I knelt at the altar rails of this magnificent Cathedral to be ordained deacon for the parish of Glenageary. Little did I know of the adventures I would have in the ministry over the next forty-four years. For forty-two of those years those adventures were shared with my best friend, constant companion and wife, Louie, and sometime later a family: Patrick, Karl, Kevin and Sheila, of all of whom I am inordinately proud. Of course, that is not the end, we now have six beautiful grandchildren to gladden our hearts. What more could anyone ask of our Heavenly Father?

CHANGES IN INTER-CHURCH RELATIONS DURING MY MINISTRY

I have been privileged to see many changes both in the Church and in society. Since my ordination the spirit of ecumenism has changed dramatically, especially at the all important parish level. It must be difficult for young people, nowadays, to believe that at that time Roman Catholics were even forbidden to enter our churches and indeed our own people, although not actually forbidden to enter Roman Catholic churches, would be extremely loathe to do so. The clergy of both our Churches barely acknowledged one another in the street, whereas today the majority knows each other by their Christian names and co-operate closely in community enterprises. One could give many, many more examples of things we now take for granted but these simple examples will have to suffice. That ever growing respect and love for one another rejoices my heart.

At the official level also, matters are progressing, albeit at a much slower rate. We have entered into a covenant with the Methodist Church and we now have inter-communion with many of the Lutheran Churches. The ARCIC (Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission) talks continue but progress, although markedly positive, is still painfully slow. We seem at times to be making progress and then documents, like Dominus Iesus, take us one step back. However, it must be admitted that to some on our island, ecumenism is a dirty word, while others regard it with sublime indifference.
I would remind both groups that the search for unity is not a matter of taste but, rather, an obedient reaction to the prayer of our Lord that we “may be one”. My prayer is that the Churches will strive harder to make a reality of the prayer of our Lord on the night before He died.

CHANGES IN THE CHURCH OF IRELAND

With regard to the Church of Ireland in the Republic, I have also witnessed much change in many areas of its life, not least in its confidence. In the earlier days of my youth and ministry, Church leaders kept their heads down and said little. When some, like Hubert Butler, spoke out they were abused by the majority and, sadly, isolated by their own Church people. For the last twenty-five or thirty years that has all changed and many speak out on political and social issues. That is as it should be. We love our country, we are proud to be Irish. When we speak out let it be in that knowledge, for that will change our tone from one of minority whingeing to loving criticism which is a very different matter altogether. We are citizens of this State, loyal citizens, and as such it is incumbent upon us to let our views be known. If we do not, we can hardly complain that our voice is never heard.

CHANGES IN LIFE IN IRELAND

On the social scene there have been dramatic changes, mostly for the good. For people of my generation, the very idea of people streaming into the country, rather than emigrating in droves, would have been simply unbelievable. A common task for the clergy then, was writing letters of commendation to the rectors of parishes in other countries, commending the young emigrants to their care. It was heartbreaking to see so many young people leaving, not because they wanted to, but because they had to for lack of jobs and opportunity. The Celtic Tiger is whimpering, rather than roaring at present, but life, for the vast majority of people, is still far better than in those days. Only the ugly face of racism is a blot on this situation and it must be eradicated, for it is a total denial of Christ and His love for all people.

Of course, there was change also in my own ministry and of great variety. From Glenageary to a Mission Parish in Canada, to a booming lumber town in the same country, to a small and beautiful rural parish in Stradbally, in Laois, to Dean of Limerick and Rector of Limerick City Parish, to Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, to Meath and Kildare and, lastly, to Dublin and Glendalough. But now that part of this wonderful adventure comes to an end and I hope that another will start. Only God knows what lies in the future for any of us, so that must be left in His Hands.

I leave with a heart full of gratitude for all that is past and today, in particular, for the last six years of serving you all in Dublin and Glendalough. It has not only been a time of immense responsibility but also a time of huge privilege. I am grateful to God and to you for giving me that opportunity. However, I know deep in my heart that it is time to go, for the good of the Church, and for my own and Louie’s good. Decisions have become harder and memory and energy levels are not what they used to be. In other words there are very definite signs of slippage!!

EXTRAORDINARILY COMMITTED CLERGY AND LAITY

My predecessor, the Most Reverend Dr. Donald Caird, said on leaving the dioceses that he left it “in good heart”. I believe that I can say the same. Certainly I leave behind me a group of extraordinarily committed clergy. I am more grateful to them than any words of mine could possibly express. Their ministry today is exercised in more difficult, burdensome, and complex circumstances than many of them could have envisaged when they were first ordained. Yet I have been deeply moved and encouraged by their deep commitment to God and their Church. Thank you, thank you so much.
Of course, the great body of the Church is not made up of clergy, important though their service many be, but of laity. I have said it before, and now I say it again, that the great strength of the Church of Ireland lies in the dedicated voluntary work of committed laity at every level of Church life, parochial, diocesan and national. Without that commitment there would be no Church and that is fact. I am constantly amazed at and, indeed moved by, not only the degree of lay commitment but also the knowledge and skill than many, many people offer to the service of God and his Church. Lay Readers are so very important to the life of the Church and so are those with gifts of administration, finance, property, teaching, secretarial and a host of other skills, which are so gracefully and skilfully offered to the Church. I thank them, too, from the bottom of my heart.

What lies ahead for the Church of Ireland in these dioceses no one knows, for the society in which we serve changes with bewildering rapidity. Whatever gifts God has bestowed on me, prophesy is certainly not one of them, yet that does not make me feel discouraged - far from it. I do not think that the great Jewish Leader, Joshua, would be named among the prophets yet God’s word spoken to him after the death of Moses should be of profound encouragement to all of us, clergy and lay alike. “I hereby command you” God said “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”. If God be for us who can be against us.

May God bless you and keep you now and always.