Fr. Bill Hanly SAC R.I.P.


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Fr. William (Bill) Hanly, SAC, died peacefully following a long and progressive illness on the evening of June 27th at 19.10 in the excellent and tender care of all the staff at St. Theresa’s Nursing Home in Thurles.

Fr. Bill had been in the care of the staff at St. Theresa’s since September 2012. As a community we are very grateful to each member of staff and management at St. Theresa’s for the attention and excellent care they gave to Fr. Bill, and to the other Pallottines who were residents there.

One of Fr. Bill’s favourite prayers which he recited frequently after Holy Communion is very appropriate for him at this time:

“May He support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest and peace at the last.” Card. John H. Newman.

Fr. Bill’s funeral arrangement are:
Viewing in the Pallottine College in Thurles on Sunday 2nd July from 16 – 19; followed by removal to the Chapel.
Concelebrated Funeral Mass on Monday 3rd in the College at 12 noon, followed by burial in the Pallottine Community Cemetery at St. Marys, Cabra.

billaFr. Bill is mourned by his Pallottine Community, his sister, Mary Frost, his brother, James Hanly, his sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and a wide circle of friends in many parts of the world.
May his good soul rest in eternal peace.

Derry Murphy, SAC.

Provincial

The Thomas Morton Prayer

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

– Thomas Merton, “Thoughts in Solitude”
© Abbey of Gethsemani

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The Touch of the Master’s Hand

‘Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.

“What am I bid, good people”, he cried,
“Who starts the bidding for me?”
“One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?”
“Two dollars, who makes it three?”
“Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,”

But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said “What now am I bid for this old violin?”
As he held it aloft with its’ bow.

“One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?”
“Two thousand, Who makes it three?”
“Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone”, said he.

The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
“We just don’t understand.”
“What changed its’ worth?”
Swift came the reply.
“The Touch of the Masters Hand.”

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.

But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters’ Hand.

Myra Brooks Welch

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Homily At Fr. Bill’s Funeral Mass by Provincial Fr. Derry Murphy SAC