Fr Liam McDermott OFM (1934 – 2020) (Submitted by Ballymote Heritage Group, Introduction by Ursula Gilhawley

Submitted by Ballymote Heritage Group (Introduction by Ursula Gilhawley)

The Ballymote Heritage Group was saddened to learn of the death of Fr Liam McDermott OFM on 9th March 2020.

Sean McDermott (later Fr Liam OFM) was born in Ballymote in 1934, son of Matthew and Johanna (nee Healy) McDermott. He was educated at the Convent of Mercy and the Boy’s National School in Ballymote and at the Franciscan College, Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath. He graduated with a BA degree from University College, Galway and B. Phil from the University of Louvain and St Isidore’s College, Rome. He joined the Franciscan Order in Killarney in 1953, was ordained a priest in Rome in 1963 and served in South Africa from 1963 until his death in 2020.

Fr Liam was a frequent visitor to Ballymote over the years and wrote for the Corran Herald on two occasions – in 1995 on the Inauguration of Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa (10th May 1995 Issue 28) and in 1996 on his travels in Africa (C’est L’Afrique Again! - Issue 29). Both articles can be read on the Heritage website www.ballymoteheritage.com.

Ballymote has a long association with the Franciscan Order. The substantial ruins of the Franciscan friary founded in 1442 under the patronage of the McDonagh chieftains are located near Ballymote Castle. The first members of the Order in Ballymote were three O’Coleman brothers. The Church of Ireland bishop of Achonry reported that seven friars remained in Ballymote in 1731 and four in 1744, at the very height of the penal period.

Ballymote Heritage Group extends sympathy to Fr Liam’s family, his brother Hubert and sisters Jean, Anne and Joan. His sister Mary predeceased him.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Fr Liam’s funeral was held in South Africa and the sermon at his funeral mass was delivered by Archbishop William Slattery OFM om the 18th March 2020. The text of the sermon is as follows:

It is not easy to speak of the hidden inspiration behind the life of Fr Liam McDermott. Liam was a quiet man, a man of few and well-chosen words, a man of service and humility and in no way an exhibitionist. He spoke few words, but they were always to the point. He was a man of truth, of confidentiality.

Liam once sent me a letter. It comprised four words: Dear William… Yes… Liam.

However, luckily, Liam himself reveals the secret of his life in the readings and the hymns which he himself chose for this his funeral and thanksgiving Mass today. He chose the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, “For the sake of Christ Jesus I have thrown everything away. I consider it all as rubbish so that I may gain Christ… All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection.

The Gospel he chose for today was the scene of the disciples with their Master on the road to Emmaus. They walked with Him and recognized him at the breaking of the bread.

To have lived close to Fr Liam was a privilege and a joy, for in him one met a man of gentle and practical service. The first time I met him in February 1971 I found him lying under the bonnet of a car with a spanner in his hand.

Tomorrow, 19 March, is the feast of St Joseph. There was something of St Joseph about Liam. Like Joseph he spoke little. Both Joseph and Liam were totally responsive to the Word of God. Liam was a totally reliable and trusted friend, dedicated to others, and in fact, dedicated to Jesus and Mary. As the first Franciscan Provincial of the new South African province, Liam listened to everyone, responded honestly, supported all in need and kept confidentiality. He never gossiped; our secrets were safe with him.

It was in the liturgy that Liam found the well of Samaria. There above all he met the Lord. He performed the liturgy with great attention and dignity. Everyone knew him as the singing Priest. One Saturday morning the lady in the Sacristy enquired who would celebrate the Saturday evening Mass that day. She asked, “Is it the Parish Priest or Pavarotti?”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church in its introduction to the liturgy tells us that every event of the past is history. All our experiences have passed by forever. But there is one event in history which transcends history and is always present, always now, always today – the dying and rising of Jesus when we celebrate the Mass. Jesus in the mass tells us, “Do this in memory of Me.” It could equally be translated from the original Aramaic as “When you do this, you bring Me back.” Here was the wellspring of the life of Fr Liam. He found the Lord in the breaking of bread.

For 25 years Liam was the spiritual assistant of all the Poor Clare Monasteries in East Africa, it was work which inspired him. It brought him back to San Damiano and the fresh beginnings of the Franciscan movement. This work took him to many countries in Africa, some in very difficult areas of access. He generally returned to South Africa quite ill. One Christmas day his dinner consisted of one banana in the empty airport of Dar Es Salam.

Today, Poor Clare Monasteries in many countries are with us in prayers. I quote from a few tributes.

From Zambia, “You were a true

Friar and in you we met a true son of St Francis, a brother and a father to us.” From Tanzania, “You tirelessly offered yourself as our spiritual assistant and made difficult journeys of long-distances to reach our monasteries. Brother, go well to the Lord you served so well. We can never forget your kindness to us. We missed your beautiful singing.”

From Uganda, “I see Fr Liam now in my mind’s eye singing Mass for us as if it were yesterday. And now he is no more. We can never forget him.”

From Kokstad, “We were blessed to have lived with our dear Father Liam. He was a friend, a father, a grandfather, our guardian and our Choir Master. He was a gentle presence full of compassion with a loving heart. Few of words he was powerful in actions. We felt blessed and loved by God who gave such a committed father and brother, always ready to help. We were moved to tears when we looked at his hurting and twisted fingers, fingers always struggling to help us.”

From Harare, “Farewell, our dearest passionate lover of the Poor ladies. God sent you to us, we will truly miss you, you will ever live in our hearts.”

For us Friars, we have a wonderful example before us of Franciscan life.

Brother Liam McDermott lived a humble simple life of poverty. He never drew attention to himself. He had no luxuries and was satisfied with simple things. His administration of monies was in the service of the order. He was no way grasping or greedy.

Liam lived a life of purity and celibacy. He allowed nothing to come between himself and God.

He lived a life of dedicated obedience at the service of the Gospel, the rule, the province and of all the brothers. Liam was the first Provincial of the South African province. All were encouraged by his example. He was a man of truth and did not seek popularity. The focus of his life was prayer. I am amused when I remember Fr Bruno who was the Vicar General of the Diocese of Kokstad and the local Franciscan superior recalling Liam’s visit to him. Liam came to Bruno in Bizana on visitation. Bruno expected to be above this trial. But after an early sung mass and silent breakfast, Liam invited him to go to the parish office for visitation. Liam’s first question was, “How is your meditation?” Although stunned Bruno was able to reply, “It is very short, I admit, but it is very deep.” Liam would always emphasize prayer.

Fr Liam was Franciscan in that he was very close to the people. His first 15 years in South Africa, 19631978, he spent as priest in the parish of Sharpeville. The place was still reeling after the massacre of 1960. He loved the people of Sharpeville and said, “These were the greatest days of my life.” He had many stories of the characters he worked with there. He spoke of John Fantisi who was to be found in the church every morning before work, devoutly praying the way of the cross and singing the hymn between stations. Then there was Calistina who was the leader of the Children of Mary. This took her to many parishes. Liam called her Kissinger, the American Secretary of State, who was then in continual movement reconciling Israel and Egypt. Then there was the old lady, Mrs Korwetsane, who frequently called him at night requesting the Last Rites. He put an end to this when he discovered that every time she ate fresh cabbage she had pains in her stomach and thought it was the last trumpet call.

Like St Francis, Liam drew people to God not to himself. His friendship was sincere, authentic and life-long.

Liam McDermott’s life was poured out to build up the church. He did this not only by dedicated ministry but by patiently bearing agonizing pain for 30 years in union with Jesus. In his slow lingering death, he never complained but exuded peace, contentment and joy. Like his saintly friend, Mother Veronica, foundress of many Poor Clare Monasteries in Africa, he used to say, “I am lucky in my vocation, whether I am ill or well, either daytime or the middle of the night, I can live it fully. I suffer and unite myself with the Lord for the church”.

For many years, Liam had been unwell and suffered a lot with pains due to severe arthritis. In these years, he found a faithful friendship in Sr Therese Tangey, a Mercy Sister. In the Gospel, Jesus promised Peter that those who left everything to follow Him would receive a hundred-fold. Liam left his wonderful family 65 years ago in Sligo. I think the Lord fulfilled his promised to Liam in the person of Sr Therese. She was a model of charity who cared for him and was always there when he was in pain. She stood very close to him right to the end. In addition, the Franciscan community in Pretoria cared for Liam with great attention and tenderness, Brother Kgosi, Brother Ashley and Fr Hyacinth who brought the Holy Eucharist to Fr Liam every day.

In very brief words where Liam looked back over his life, we find these words as an Antiphon, “But It was great.” It reminds us of the final words of the St Clare of Assisi, “I thank you Lord for having created me.” Indeed, Liam’s final words were, “It was a great life, thank God. That can be my obituary when I kick the bucket.”

On this funeral day, my mind goes back to the evening of October 3rd, 1226. St Francis has just died. Brothers Leo, Masseo and Rufino could now see and reflect upon the wounds of the Stigmata. There they saw the price St Francis paid to respond to Jesus’ love for him. In the broken body of St Francis, they saw the price of their own charism. Today, we say goodbye to our brother Fr Liam McDermott. He spent himself to bring the message of St Francis to Africa. We are challenged to live Franciscan lives worthy of the heritage he left us. 18 March 2020, Wednesday William Slattery, OFM