"Happy those servants if he finds them ready" (Lk. 12:38).
My dear friends in Christ,
We gather this afternoon to celebrate the funeral rites of the late V. Rev. John Slattery, former Parish Priest of this parish of Ladysbridge and Ballymacoda. We gather with his family members, his niece, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, with his former parishioners and his fellow Priests. We are united in prayer with his Sister, Sister Felicitas in South Africa who was unable to travel. We are all still in shock at the suddenness of his passing and we comfort one another with our prayers and our sentiments of condolence. "Be like men waiting for their master to return…..ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks"(Lk. 12:36), the Gospel proclaims today. We all are awaiting the return of the Lord, as individuals and as a people, and 'return' He certainly will, when and how we do not know. But the message of Jesus is quite clear: "You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Lk. 12:40). The sudden and unexpected death of Father John is a reminder of this fundamental truth.
Father John Slattery, a native of the Parish of Newtownshandrum was born in 1925 into a family truly rooted and founded in the Christian faith. At an early age, during his primary and secondary schooling, he experienced the stirrings within him of a priestly vocation and so it was no surprise to family and friends that the young John was accepted to study for Priesthood in 1943 and was sent to St. Patrick's College, Maynooth for his formation. He was ordained for the Diocese of Cloyne in Maynooth in the Holy Year of 1950 by the then Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev. John C. McQuaid. Father John's first appointment brought him as Chaplain to the Hospital in Youghal where he served zealously for almost six years taking care of the sick and comforting the bereaved. He was then moved to the western side of the Diocese to be curate in the Parish of Clondrohid where he served for over six and a half years before returning to East Cork again for his third appointment as curate in the Parish of Killeagh. While Father John was engaged in the Pastoral care of the people of Killeagh, his priestly vocation was showing signs of reaching out, in mission, to the universal church. So after almost three years in Killeagh, Father John was released by my predecessor, Bishop Ahern, to go on mission with the Missionary Society of St. James of the Archdiocese of Boston. His mission was to be in Ecuador and from June 1963 to June 1967 he worked as a missionary among the people of that South American land.
Enthused and enlightened by his missionary experience, Father John returned to the Diocese of Cloyne and took up an appointment in the Parish of Aghada where, for the next thirteen years, he used all his priestly and missionary experience in caring for the people placed under his pastoral care. In November 1980 he was appointed curate in Youghal where he had begun his priestly ministry some thirty years previously. He remained in Youghal in fruitful priestly ministry until his appointment in 1988 as Parish Priest of Aghinagh. After six years serving the people of Aghinagh, Father John became Parish Priest of Imogeela Parish with residence in Castlemartyr. Exactly a year later he came to this Parish of Ladysbridge and Ballymacoda as Parish Priest in 1995 and resigned from that office in 1998, due to failing health. He retired to Youghal, a parish and town which had endeared itself to him over the years, where he suddenly passed away on Monday last, as he was preparing to go to the Presentation Convent to celebrate Holy Mass.
Father John Slattery came, as I said, from a family truly rooted and founded in the faith. He had three uncles who were priests, one on his father's side, Father Pat Slattery, a priest who served in Illnois in the U.S., and two on his mothers side; Fr. Sean Pigott who served in the Archdiocese of Dublin and Father Jerry Pigott, a priest of the Diocese of Cloyne who was Dean of St. Colman's College, Fermoy, when he joined the newly founded missionary Society of Saint Columban in 1922 and served in China, Japan and the Philippines. We have here today concelebrating his funeral Mass a cousin of Father John's, Father James McCarthy, also a Columban Missionary. Father John's Sister, Sr. Felicitas of the Little Company of Mary, is witnessing to the Lord in her ministry in Pretoria, South Africa. Other members of Father John's wide family circle have served and are serving as Religious in various parts.
Father John was a devoted Priest who nourished himself daily at the Altar
of the Lord and was truly faithful to his prayer life. After retiring Father
John was often seen here, in this Church, making the Way of the Cross. He was
a well-read man and the Word of God was of primary importance in his reading.
His homilies were deliberate and well thought out. Indeed his sincerity of character,
blended with a firmness of purpose, marked him out as one intent on getting
across a message. And the message was always delivered in a soft spoken manner
that was impressive. Father John would be known in the Diocese as a reserved
and, at times, a rather shy person but this side of his character belied the
true nature of a Priest who, at all costs, was intent on spreading the Word
of God and witnessing to His love of the world. Knowing the Priestly background
from which he came, especially the missionary aspect clearly demonstrated in
the life of his uncle, Father Jerry Pigott, there was no surprise when Father
John volunteered to go on missionary assignment to Ecuador. His four years of
generous witnessing to God's saving message, in a culture and language very
different from his own, showed the strength of his conviction and the depth
of his faith.
Father John had a deep interest in Irish history. He was a member of Cumann
na Sagart and he took a great interest in the Irish Language and Culture. He
gladly took an active part in the celebrations of the bicentenary of the Rising
of '98 held in Ballymacoda, where he welcomed the delegation of 'Pikemen' who
came from Youghal to re-enact those historical events.
Father John was a man who just loved the sea and it was no surprise that he opted to retire to Youghal. His daily swim and his walk on the beach led one to believe that he had a long and healthy life before him. He was the type of person who would ask of the Lord to take him when his 'hour' had come. He would not have been the person to endure a long illness and so the Lord called him at the hour he did not expect. John was ready when the Lord called. He was one "waiting for the Master to return"(cf.Lk.12:36).
To his dear Sister, Sister Felicitas, to his niece, nephews, grandnieces,
grandnephews, relatives and friends go our sincerest condolences and prayers.
May the suddenness of his parting give way to the assurance that Father John
is now safely home in the hands of the Saviour he loved and served so well.
To the Presentation Sisters I wish to express deep gratitude for your care of
and interest in Father John since his retirement into Youghal. His daily Mass
meant so much to him and you facilitated him in this. I also wish to mention
his fellow Priests in the Diocese and particularly the Priests with whom he
worked during his forty-eight years of active ministry in the Diocese. He treasured
your brotherly friendship and support. He will be sadly missed among you. To
the Priests of Youghal who welcomed Father John, on his retirement, among them,
I say 'thank you'. He was so appreciative of your care and concern. One cannot
but think of the late Monsignor St. John Thornhill as one who made Father John
feel completely at home in the faith community of Youghal. May they both be
at home in the kingdom of the Master for He has said: "I tell you solemnly,
he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them"(Lk. 12:37).
Our thoughts and prayers go to the many parishioners throughout the Diocese
of Cloyne - and indeed in Ecuador - who were touched by grace through the pastoral
ministry of Father John, especially those of this Parish. May you continue to
pray for him that the Lord may grant him the reward promised to all who have
worked tirelessly and faithfully in His vineyard. May He grant you, Father John,
eternal rest.