Fr Sean Crummey SDB (RIP)
Thanks to Tony Brady, who lives near Belfast and attended the funeral of the late Father Sean Crummey as a representative of the Blaisdon Old Boys, we have this copy of the Mass Sheet and a fine commentary on the service, which is set out below.
Today, Saturday 1st December 2007, in the presence of a several hundred
parishioners of St. Peter’s Cathedral Parish, Divis Neighbourhood, Belfast,
two Bishops and twenty Priests con-celebrated a Requiem Mass in Thanks for and
in Celebration of the Life of Father Sean Crummey SDB.
Father Sean’s elderly sister was too infirm to travel from her home in
Scotland but his many nephews and nieces and their children attended. They
assisted with aspects of the Service and provided the musical and singing
accompaniment.
In his Homily, Father Provincial, Father John Horan SDB, recalled the
course of Father Sean’s life beginning with his arriving at Shrigley aged 12
years from Belfast. He charted his progress to religious Profession and
Ordination in Blaisdon and subsequent professional life achievements as a
Salesian teacher of boys. Finally, Father Sean’s 15 retirement years spent
as a loved and valued Parish Pastor when he returned to his beloved Belfast
were illustrated. Father Sean’s contributions to fraternal community life
and his patient acceptance of increasing physical frailty were acknowledged by
Father Provincial and thanks were expressed to his professional Nursing Home Carers
and the unwavering caring commitment extended by members of his family.
Father Provincial generated spontaneous laughter when he recounted a story
about Father Sean celebrating an erstwhile great County Down Hurling victory
with instructions to a barman: “Whiskeys all round to fellow priests and a
‘Holy Picture’ please for the Pioneers among them
Before The Final Commendation Bishop Ryan (Diocese of Connor & Down)
thanked the Salesian Province through Fr. Provincial for seconding Father Sean
to St. Peter’s Cathedral Parish. He praised the devotion of his elder
Salesian partner and recalled the words of St. Paul. "Though the body
show signs of age and decay it is renewed by the inner life of the spirit."
The affection and regard with which - the mature in years - Father Sean was
held by his fellow priests, community Sisters and parishioners was testament
in the great witness today for his dedicated service in life, their attendance
at his funeral and their collective farewell.
Other Significant Personal Highpoints & Impressions of the day:
Before the Service I introduced myself to Father Sean’s family members
and they were delighted that I had come to represent The President and Members
of Blaisdon Past Pupils (Old Boy’s) Association.
A Pallaskenry Salesian Agricultural College Old Boy - who I chatted with
earlier - went out of his way later to introduce me to Father Provincial.
Father Provincial and his three accompanying Priests’ were friendly,
interested and gave me a genuine welcome.
A short talk with a St. Peter’s Parish Sister; She is a Daughter of
Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, she helped in respite-care for Father Sean and
confirmed for me how greatly loved he was by all who knew and met him in his
parish duties.
The Divis area experie
Tony Brady.
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OUR THANKS TO YOU TONY, FOR THE LONG JOURNEY YOU MADE TO ATTEND THIS SERVICE FOR A FINE SALESIAN, AND YOUR REPORT.
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Dear Friends
Funeral Details
Fr Tom Dunne has sent details of the funeral of Fr Sean Crummey, who is
known by several of our senior Salesians in this province.
REMOVAL to the Pro-Cathedral, St Peter's Square, Belfast this evening,
Thursday 29th November, for Mass at 7.30 p.m.
FUNERAL MASS in St. Peter's at 12 noon on Saturday, 1st December.
BURIAL in Milltown Cemetery, Belfast, after Funeral Mass.
May he rest in peace.
--
Fr Patrick Sherlock SDB (GBR Provincial Secretary)
Thornleigh Salesian House, Sharples Park, Bolton BL1 6PQ
Tel: 01204 600 720 Web: www.salesians.org.uk
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Dear Friends
We have received the following from Fr Tom Dunne, Provincial Secretary
of the Irish Province:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As you are well aware, Fr Joe Lucey died unexpectedly on Sunday last and
I have just received the further sad news that Fr Sean Crummey who was
attached to the Provincial House Community, Crumlin, Dublin, died
peacefully at 11 a.m. this morning, in St. Mary's Home, Beechmount,
Falls Road, Belfast 5. Fr Sean was 90 years of age and had been very
ill for a number of years.
He was a native of Belfast and entered Shrigley as an aspirant on
16/9/29, completed his Novitiate in Cowley, Oxford on September 8th
1934, where he also completed his Philosophy. He did his practical
training in Warrenstown and Blaisdon and completed his Theology studies
in Blaisdon from 1939-43 where he was ordained on 25th July 1943.
After Ordination he taught in Farnborough from 1943 to 1957, then in
Cowley from 1957-59 and he then moved to Ireland where he taught in
Pallaskenry from 1959-78. In 1978 he went as Curate to the
Pro-Cathedral, St Peter's Square, Belfast where he remained until 2006.
His health had been deteriorating for some years and later in 2006 he
moved to St. Mary's Nursing Home.
I will forward funeral arrangements later. Please pray for the happy
repose of the soul of Sean, for his many relatives and friends who
grieve for him and for the Salesians of the Irish Province. May he rest
in peace.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
--
Fr Patrick Sherlock SDB (GBR Provincial Secretary)
Thornleigh Salesian House, Sharples Park, Bolton BL1 6PQ
Tel: 01204 600 720 Web: www.salesians.org.uk