Will you follow and flock to the online parish of Fr Paddy?
WRITING a few months back that, “I am a lapsed Catholic” ruff led a few feathers. When I said the same thing last week to Fr Paddy Byrne, his instant response was, “So am I,” before adding, “in ways”.
Fr Paddy is a 43-yearold curate in the Catholic Parish of Portlaoise, who has just published a book, entitled All Will Be Well.
This book is for anyone interested in a view of the Church that might just turn around its seemingly inevitable demise or is seeking a beacon of hope in today’s world. (Moral leadership doesn’t have to be religious, but it can be).
When Paddy refers to being lapsed, it is from the “ailing” model of the institutional Church, marred by scandal and ridicule, which he says, “needs to die” because it, “somehow became blinded by its power”.
Fr Paddy’s message is not new but he has found a way of communicating that resonates, a modern way of packaging God’s central message of love and compassion.
For one thing, it is mutually respectful, which is no more than we all deserve, but which has been lost.
Paddy is a big fan of the social medium Twitter and his account, @frpaddybyrne, has some 14,000 — serendipitously titled — followers.
He regards his Twittersphere as a kind of online parish and tweets positive messages about life and comments on current social justice issues, including direct provision and Portlaoise Hospital.
One last week read, “Just remember every single second is an opportunity to change your life.”
He is strongly opposed to abortion but takes the more liberal line of Pope Francis towards homosexuality, “Who am I to judge? ”
Other subjects covered in the book are why he is a fan of the late Martin McGuinness, the “not lovey-dovey” message of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and why importing priests from overseas because of the vocations crisis is just, “kicking the celibacy can down the road”.
The Carlow native is critical of how some people use Church buildings and rituals in celebrating various life events, “if not in a Church, where could a bride walk up the aisle? ”
But he is full of praise for young people, the extolling of their enthusiasm and sense of justice.
I don’t agree with all Fr Paddy’s opinions but I admire his candour and willingness to show his vulnerability. He is a breath of fresh air.
His zest for life is infectious, “I believe we are on the verge of a new springtime within the Church”.
He also makes a number of touching references to his father, who was an alcoholic, but whose life Paddy sees as being about so much more.
On Christmas Eve 1998, Paddy was on a pastoral placement in Baltinglass. A storm left himself and the parish priest Fr Gary without power. When Paddy remarked how lonely it was, Fr Gary said he’d, “better get used to it”. Minutes later, a loud knock at the door revealed — to Paddy’s great joy — his father, who said, “You’re coming home for Christmas with us.”
All Will Be Well is available in bookshops or from Portlaoise Parish Centre, at €15 (incl P&P).
Finally, and brief ly, back to Twitter. Next week (from December 11) myself and my good husband, Robin, will be curating @IrelandsFarmers. So please check us out!