Homily

"Unbind him and let him go free" (Jn. 11:44).

This command of the Lord Jesus, my dear Sisters and Brothers, to those who stood dumbfounded, as the figure of the man Lazarus emerged from the tomb, was perfectly in keeping with His mission in the world. He had come, at the will of His Father, to unbind all mankind and to enable all to walk free with the freedom of the children of God. The Father so loved the world that He sent His only Son to redeem it and it is His will that His Son should lose none of those entrusted to Him. When Martha hesitated at the request of Jesus to have the stone removed from the opening of the tomb He had said to her, "Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God" (Jn. 11:40).

To be unbound, to walk free and to see the glory of God is the promise given to all who believe, who believe in the Son of the Father, Jesus Christ. This is the promise given by Jesus to all who are reborn to the new life in the waters of Baptism, to all who remain faithful to their Baptismal grace, to all who do the will of the Father

Father Michael Twohig, almost eighty years ago, was brought from the Baptismal Font reborn to new life, unbound and free. The grace of Baptism had free reign in his young life as he was nourished in faith in a truly Christian home. At the young age of 19 years Michael responded to what he believed was a call to priesthood and entered St. Patrick's College, Maynooth in 1942. The definitive call came seven years later when the then Archbishop of Dublin, John C. McQuaid, laid hands on him and Michael rose a priest of Jesus Christ forever. That was on the 19th June 1949. On that day Father Michael received the command of the Lord Jesus: "Unbind them and let them go free" (cf. Jn. 11:44). By the ministry of Word and Sacrament Father Michael was to carry on the mission given by Christ to His Church, the mission He Himself had received from the Father, namely to unbind all those to whom he would minister from the shackles of sin and death and enable them to walk freely forward in faith and eventually to see the glory of God.

For fifty-four years Father Michael has been faithful to the Mission given him on his Ordination Day. He began his mission in England, in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle and spent the first two years of his priestly ministry there before being recalled and appointed as Chaplain to the Loreto Sisters in Youghal. After three years of ministry in Youghal he was called to minister to the people of Doneraile taking up his residence in Hazelwood. He spent some six years there before moving on to another appointment in the parish of Milford with residence in Tullylease in April of 1960. Five years later he was ministering as curate in Berrings in the parish of Inniscarra from where, in 1969, he moved to Blarney. After more than eight years of fruitful service in Blarney Father Michael returned to East Cork and took up his duties as curate in Midleton in January of 1978. Three years later he was moved back to Youghal again to where he had begun his ministry in the Diocese and he ministered there for almost seven years until I appointed him Parish Priest of Donoughmore in June 1988. In all, Father Michael had nine different appointments during his priestly ministry and when he resigned his office as Parish Priest of Donoughmore after twelve years of active ministry he looked forward to enjoying a well-earned rest.

The ministry of unbinding and setting free the people of God entailed for Father Michael a total fidelity to preaching the Word of God and ministering the Sacraments. His daily Eucharist celebrated for fifty-four years was the source of his personal spiritual strength and those who attended his Masses will readily attest to his personal devotion and the decorum with which he celebrated. From the Eucharist his personal prayer-life was nourished and he was always fortified daily as he set about his priestly tasks in the various parishes in which he ministered. His visitation of homes, his availability to people and the gentleness of his character are aspects of his ministry which remain in the hearts of all who benefited from his pastoral care. Father Michael was happy in his Priesthood and bonded very well with his fellow priests in the Diocese. With them he would relax and be at home. His hobbies were such as to enable him to take time out to refresh himself both mentally and physically.

Those who knew him well have described Father Michael as "a diligent priest". This aspect of his priestly ministry was no more evident than when he became Parish Priest of Donoughmore. His parish was his life and it is remarked how he got to know everyone by name and was deeply interested in everyone's life and welfare. He was always at hand and could be approached at any time. He was no stranger to any home and no one felt a stranger to him. His task of being a Pastor to all in his parish brought him into contact with the everyday life of his people and this he cherished. His visits to the sick at home and in hospital as well as his frequent visits to the schools of his parish marked him out as being a Pastor with a mission and that mission he carried out faithfully. No task was too great for Father Michael. If it had to be done and if it was part of the mission entrusted to him he would do it. It was with this spirit that he took on the task of overseeing the building of the new church of St. Lacteen in Stuake. The delicacy and tact required in regard to the demolition of the old Church and the siting of the new were aspects of his priestly character that will remain in the history of the Parish. I remember well the final Mass in the old Church and the poignancy of the moment when we closed the door for the last time. Father Michael was able to harness his parish and particularly the local Community Council in such a way as to ensure that a great Millennium gift was given to God by the Parish in the opening of the new Church. It now stands as a monument to his pastoral commitment to the needs of his people. I thank all those who responded at that time to the call of Father Michael to do something great for God. The opening of the new Church was his proudest moment. The Diocese of Cloyne records with gratitude Father Michael Twohig's enormous contribution to its mission of proclaiming the Good News of the Lord and of setting God's People securely on the road of faith.

When Father Michael resigned his office of Parish Priest in September 2000 he returned here to his native Parish of Ballyvourney. The people of this parish soon came to know how available he was to continue his priestly ministry and he was always eager to be asked to celebrate Holy Mass here in this parish or wherever a priest was required. He settled back home with a wealth of pastoral experience and he made that experience available whenever needed. He was one who had been close all his priestly life to God's people and also to God's creation in nature. Several times I met him breathing in the good air of Gougane Barra where he would love to go to be quiet and at peace with his God. Unfortunately, Fr. Michael's enjoyment of his retirement was cut short by his falling ill. He faced this period of his life with typical courage and patience. His strong priestly spirituality combined with his personal devotions, especially to the Eucharist, to the Sacred Heart and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, enabled him to take up his daily cross of suffering. His daily Eucharist and personal prayer life strengthened him for the journey ahead which would lead him to his personal encounter with the Lord. Fr. Michael approached his final call with serenity of mind and heart and even gave detailed instructions as to his funeral Mass and burial. The Lord called him to Himself on the Feast of the Sacred Heart just as his brother, Archdeacon Chris, had concluded Holy Mass.

We gather around the mortal remains of a faithful and diligent priest. We pray today for his happy repose and we call on Jesus, whom he served so well, to "Unbind him and let him go free" (Jn. 11:44). We pray for his brother Archdeacon Chris, for his nieces and nephews, his grandnieces and grandnephews and his wide circle of friends who mourn his passing. Father Michael was particularly close to his wide family circle and we wish to be close to them now in their loss. We pray also for the many parishioners whom he served as a Priest, especially those of the Parish of Donoughmore. We pray for his fellow priests of the Diocese who mourn his passing. They will assist him with their prayers, especially as they celebrate Holy Mass. We pray very particularly for Nora his faithful housekeeper and we thank her for all she did for Father Michael over many years to enable him to carry out his mission to God's people. Nora, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We shall support you with our prayers and ask the Lord to unbind you from the bonds of grief and let you go free in the knowledge that Father Michael is now in the merciful and loving hands of the Saviour whom he loved and served so faithfully.

Father Michael, thank you for the witness of your priesthood and may you enjoy the reward the Lord has prepared for you. Rest in peace.

*******************************