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Popular sacristan hangs up his keys
16.01.09
WHEN Francis O’Donnell
hangs up the keys of the chapel at Cockhill on
Sunday, January 18 it will bring to an end his
remarkable 37 year career as a caretaker and
sacristan of the chapels in Buncrana and Cockhill.
During that time Francis has worked under three
different parish priests and has lost count of the
number of curates who have passed through. But he
was full of praise last week for the way he had been
treated by all.
“I must say they have all been very good to me and I
was only too happy to work for them all.” He
chuckled however at the memory of how he found
himself in the job, rather stumbling on the position
by accident in 1972.
“I remember I was working at the time in Dr.
McGinley’s house and after I had been working for
weeks he approached me and offered me the job. As
soon as he called me in and said he wanted to talk
to me I knew what he wanted and I was happy to get
the job.” |
For eight years Francis
worked at the Oratory in Buncrana before he moved
out closer to home at Cockhill. However his work
over the years has been as much as a caretaker as it
was sacristan and there was always plenty to do.
“I had plenty to do alright, I looked after the
chapel grounds and the chapel and also did the work
in the chapel getting things ready for the various
Masses and services. I have always had plenty to
do.”
Francis who is married to Maura with whom he has
eight children (Martina, Marie, Brian, Eilish,
Denis, Anne, Francis and Oliver) continued his
duties under Fr. Carolan and again under |
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the present Parish
Priest Fr. Walsh and says he can have no complaints
about any of his time as sacristan and caretaker.
During his time he has seen many changes but he
insists the people of the parish have always been
good.
“I have always tried to be obliging to everybody and
I think people appreciated that.”
Over the years he has also witnessed his fair share
of moving and memorable moments, joyous weddings and
terrible tragedies.
“There have been some very happy times, but some
very sad times here too and I suppose we have had
more than our share of sad times in the last ten
years.”
Throughout them all Francis has been one of the
constants, working away diligently in the background
to ensure that whatever the occasion, all the
preparations were carried out to perfection.
“People would often come and ask the priest if they
could get something organised and he would have told
them to ask me. Sometimes it could be something just
as simple as making sure the heat was on for a
wedding, sometimes it was other wee things but if I
could oblige them at all I did.”
Apart from his duties as a sacristan Francis is also
a Minister of the Eucharist, a duty he thoroughly
enjoys and one he doesn’t intend to give up even
after his retirement.
“I really love to be able to help give out Communion
and I’ll keep on doing that even after I hang up the
keys,” he said.
As for filling the rest of his time Francis has
nothing really planned but is sure he won’t be
sitting around idle.
“My son has a few lawns that will keep me occupied
in the summer and there is always something to be
done about the house so I’m sure I’ll manage to keep
busy,” he said.
In the meantime Francis and his family are looking
forward to a special Mass in Cockhill on Friday
night (January 16) at 7.30pm when many local
parishioners are expected to come along to join in
well deserved thanks for his years of dedicated
service. Refreshments will be served afterwards in
the Lake of Shadows Hotel and numerous former
priests of the parish are expected to attend.
(Inishowen Independent) |
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