On Saturday 18 November 2017, during the Vigil Mass for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time in St Patrick’s Church, Ballybay, Fr Owen Joe McEneaney was inducted and installed as the new Parish Priest of Tullycorbet by the Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Clogher, Monsignor Joseph McGuinness. Fr McEneaney succeeds Fr La Flynn, who was recently appointed Prior of Lough Derg and Administrator of Pettigo parish in Co Donegal. Mgr McGuinness and Fr McEneaney were joined by Mgr Gerard McSorley and Fr P.J. McGinnity in concelebrating the Mass. Also in attendance was the Church of Ireland Rector of Ballybay, Clontibret and Muckno, the Rev Neal Phair, who, during the Installation Rite, exchanged greetings with Fr McEneaney on behalf of other Christian Denominations in the Ballybay area. The attendance also included members of Fr McEneaney’s family: his mother Lil and his sister, brother-in-law and their family. Present too were religious sisters of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart community in Ballybay.
In his homily, based on the Gospel reading of the day (Matthew 25: 14-30), Monsignor McGuinness spoke of the gifts that each of one of us possess and stressed how important it is for all people to recognise and accept who we are; to recognise our strengths and our limitations. ‘God does not ask us to do the impossible. God supplies us with the help and support we need – the strength, love and support of other people’, he said.
Monsignor McGuinness spoke of Fr Owen Joe’s calm judgement, his commitment to priestly life and his dedication to the communities he has served in. In doing all this,he affirmed, Fr McEneaney will be supported too by the people of Tullycorbet. ‘Priests are sometimes viewed as being lonely. This is not the case. We have the priceless gifts of love and support of other people: family, colleagues and parishioners.’ He asked parishioners not to underestimate the power of their support for priests – it is beyond price, he said. ‘Through you, God touches our lives and we receive great gifts of value, for which we are very thankful.’, he declared. Mgr McGuinness concluded his homily by urging people of faith not to be afraid, to have confidence and courage to do things, to do the right things. He reminded the people of Tullycorbet parish that Jesus constantly assures us to ‘be not afraid’. ‘This because our minds are focussed on the eternal realities of the kingdom of God. Let us therefore, renew our commitment to let what is in us out and to share our talents.’, he concluded.
The Induction and Installation Rite took place following the homily. After having made a Profession of Faith, Fr McEneaney was addressed by Mgr McGuinness as to the rights and responsibilities of his new office. He urged him ‘always to be a model of the faithful shepherd to the flock committed to your care in this parish, so that you may know them, guard them, and see to it that they are fed with the Bread of Life, the Word of God and the Sacraments, above all the Holy Eucharist.’
After having led Fr McEneaney to the presidential chair, Mgr McGuinness formally installed him to ‘canonical possession of this Church and Parish of Tullycorbet. The people of God living in this parish are now your people, entrusted to your pastoral care.’ The presentation of symbols of office followed – the Book of the Gospels and the key of the parish church. This followed by a sign of peace and the exchange of greeting with Rev Phair.
Before the final blessing, Rev Phair addressed the congregation and welcomed Fr Owen Joe to Ballybay and said that he looked forward to working alongside him in the years ahead. He spoke of the excellent relationship between the various Christian Denominations in the locality and prayed God’s blessing on all of their work, to which the new parish priest will now be joined.
Fr McEneaney thanked the people of Ballybay, Ballintra and Tullycorbet for their welcome. He spoke of the parish as being ‘a good parish’ and one where the three areas work well together. He paid tribute to Fr La Flynn for his excellent work in the parish over the past thirteen years and also thanked Mgr McSorley and Fr McGinnity for their friendship and support.
The Diocesan Administrator, Mgr Joseph McGuinness thanked Fr McEneaney for generously accepting the post of PP of Tullycorbet. He was confident that he would bring his many gifts and talents to bear on the work of the parish in the years ahead. He paid tribute to his work as Prior of Lough Derg and to his earlier work in Monaghan & Rackwallace parish. He wished Fr McEneaney well and knew that he would have the support of the people of the whole parish. Monsignor McGuinness also paid glowing tribute to Fr La Flynn for his work in Tullycorbet parish and wished him well in the challenges ahead in his new role on Lough Derg.
