Scairbh

Na

gCaorach

EMYVALE

Homily at Pat Kehoe’s Requiem Mass

PAT KEHOE  18TH DECEMBER 2011.

In the Gospel today we meet the persistent figure of Mary. We can identify with her for a number of reasons. Mary was the first believer in Jesus Christ, and she remained faithful to him through his life and death on the cross. Mary is a representative of all people who have ever been silenced, or repressed, or exploited down the years. She lived in an occupied land, was a member of a minority group, and was a woman in a time when women’s voices were not heard. She was forever on the margins of hardship; from giving birth in a stable, to fleeing Herod’s murderous intent, to being on the fringes of Jesus public ministry, to being held back by soldiers as her son was crucified.

Michelangelo’s famous Pieta where Mary received the broken dead body of her son echoes the pain of all parents who have received back the broken bodies of their sons and daughters.  When she let forth a cry, a scream of agony, she did so, on behalf of all people who find them selves helpless and powerless in the face of the sudden death of a loved one.

In Bethlehem Mary gave Jesus the Son of God to the world, on Calvary the world gave him back to her as a crucified body. It was on Calvary that Mary became mother to us all when Jesus said to his disciple “Behold thy mother”, and this resonated the prayer of Mary in the Magnificat “behold all generations will call me blessed”.

Mary is presented to us on this fourth Sunday of Advent in the mouth of Christmas, to remind us that she has not gone away. There is no pain or hurt or suffering in the world but she has known it and is an example for us.

Today we turn to Mary for strength and support as we celebrate the funeral rites of Pat Kehoe. Pat was born in Dublin in 1958 and has one sister, Mai who still resides there. As a young man he learned a trade as a barman and was a publican in a number of premises including “the Hill” in Dublin. It was there he met Mary whom he wooed with his charm, his wit, and his motorbike. They were married in September 1981, here in Corracrin and had the reception in the Pillar House in Glaslough. They started married life in Dublin and had three children Kevin, John and Amy. The family then moved back to Emyvale after the death of Mary’s father who had died here in the Church in Corracrin eighteen years ago. Pat immediately became a popular member of the community and for a Dub he took to the country living with enthusiasm. Their lands became a menagerie of hens and ducks and goats and donkeys with even a horse being part of the home. It is interesting to note that when Pat set off one day to purchase a dishwasher for the family home he arrived home that evening with Bunty the horse.

Most people would agree that there was never a shortage of cowboys around Emyvale, but it was not until Pat came about that there was a real cowboy who would ride to town with proper cowboy gear, on a western style saddle and pull up a the local saloon to have a drink. His home is decorated with his heroes of the westerns from the Duke, John Wayne to the classic, Clint Eastwood. It was probably this mind set that made him bring a bull which was inclined to trespass to be tied to the Garda barracks in Emyvale.

In Monaghan Pat found employment again as a barman and as a chef in Andes restaurant, before he set up Pat’s cabs and provided safe transport for the locals of the area, while also doing a spell in a chip van. In all of these arenas he was able to chat and have a crack with all his clients and was a warm and helpful friend to so many people.

As a husband and father his greatest love was expressed. He had an open door policy where any one could talk to him at any hour of the day or night. He brought his children walking, hunting, fishing and swimming, teaching them all the values and customs of the local area.

His sudden death this week has robbed his family of a loving husband, a devoted father, a special brother, and deprived this community of a much respected member. His sudden death in the mouth of Christmas adds an extra anguish to his family’s grief in particular. In this light we return to the Gospel of today and we invite Mary the mother of God to intercede now with the Father to welcome Pat into his Kingdom. We trust that the loving God whom we believe in will forgive Pat his sins and number him among the host of Heaven. We trust that Mary the mother of God will comfort and support the Kehoe family, because we know that there is never a tear or pain, felt by anyone who is bereaved but is noted by the one who experienced so much pain in her own life.  

Eternal rest grant onto him O Lord.