Golden memories as Longford priest Fr Pat recalls 50 years of priesthood

An educational journey intertwined saw Fr Pat Lennon, the parish priest of Legga, Moyne, and Fr Michael F Kiernan, a parish priest in Sacramento, California, pass from primary school right through to St John's Seminary in Waterford.

The two men met up recently at the Moyne Latin School to mark a milestone on their education path. From kicking football together as young men to administering to the spiritual needs of their parishioners the roads the men travelled have thrown up many obstacles.

Both are originally from Ballinamuck. While Fr Michael's appointment brought him to California, Fr Pat's missionary work saw him serve in the southern Africa nations of Zambia and Zimbabwe before his current posting in Legga, Moyne.

The two priests celebrate their Golden Jubilee this month and also marked the anniversary of starting out in Moyne Latin School. They were among the 42 young men to start out that year and go on to graduate as the school concluded its boys-only policy.

Moyne Latin School had a rich tradition of producing young men who went forward to the priesthood. One class saw 15 graduates take the cloth. In the year Fr Michael and Fr Pat concluded their secondary school education four boys went on to the seminary.

“Michael and I soldiered together, right from primary school. We went to the Latin school and on to the seminary as well,” Fr Pat told the Leader.
Having completed their second level schooling in Moyne the two would-be priests progressed to the next stage of education. The influence of the North Longford school continued for Fr Pat: “I went to the seminary in St John's, Waterford with Michael. I signed up for the South American country of Ecuador. I came back to Moyne to see my former teachers, to say hello and thank them.

“Father Phil McGee, who became principal to this school and the first principal of the Community School, asked me where I wanted to go, I said I was going on the missions. His words were prophetic. He said, “Why don't you join the home diocese and you might get a chance afterwards". And that's exactly what happened.”

Although the draw of missionary work still tugged at the new cleric he was delighted with his designation: “I was appointed to Carrick on Shannon. It was my first love really. I was playing football, enjoying playing with the club and the county. Then the Bishop was looking for volunteers as they opened a new mission in Zambia. I felt obliged. There were 34 volunteers at that time, four of us were chosen.”

The move from Leitrim to Africa was monumental: “It was one of the most difficult things I ever did. I was leaving my family and the parish. I made great friends playing football, people I've been in contact with ever since. I headed off to Zambia. I spent seven years there. I came back and was appointed to Athlone. I spent twelve years there in Ballinahown.”

The call of the missions continued for Fr Pat: “With the opening of another mission I again felt obliged to volunteer. I was asked to go to Zimbabwe and spent seven years there. On the whole it was a great experience.”
The caveat “on the whole” is telling. In his time on the missions Fr Pat experienced a number of challenges: “People recently asked me what I thought of the last 50 years. Well, I said to be quite honest, if I'd known as much then as I know now I probably wouldn't have been able to face it, because I was very near death at least five times in Africa.

“I got malaria, but everyone gets malaria. I got severe malaria. I was completely knocked out for 48 hours, but that wasn't the biggest problem,” he tells.

One specific incident stood out in the Ballinamuck man's mind: “During my time in Zimbabwe we stayed at what we called Central Station. We would go out into the bush for about a week. It was during the rainy season. When the rain falls, it really rains. I was out on Saturday evening, and was going back the following day to the mission.

“On my way back my jeep got stuck, but some local people helped me out. We got it out and I had to stay in the mud hut. I was having a chat with the people who helped me and this light came in the distance. “God,” I thought, “this doesn't look good”. Vehicles were scarce there at the time, so we waited patiently with bated breath. It passed by the hut and into the village. I was curious to know what it was.

“I went to the village and was told it was a messenger from President Kenneth Kaunda to the Paramount chief. I went back and told the lads. They were delighted, then went home. I lay down in the bunk bed and went to sleep. At around 12 o'clock there was a bang at my door. It was one of my colleagues. He told me daddy had got a stroke at home in Ireland and had passed away. I had a premonition. Wasn't that extraordinary?”

Fr Pat knew he had to make his way back to Ireland. Considering the muddy conditions the journey to Central Station was uneventful: “I arrived back at around 2:00am in the morning. One of the sisters of the religious community in the diocese organised to accompany me up to Lusaka. It was a five hour drive.

“At first I was driving, but the sister asked if I wanted her to drive. I was still in shock, so I agreed. She was driving so slowly, but I didn't want to offend her. We were going up an escarpment in the jeep and as we went around a bend the jeep careered across the road on the stones and we almost went off the cliff. We were on the top of a high mountain. If we had gone off we would have never been found.

“I took over the driving and I was so nervous. I had to take it inch by inch. We just got there in time for the plane. That was one close escape, but there were others,” he recalled.

Fr Pat says his trust in God has helped him navigate the challenges life throws at him: “You accept things in faith, really. On the missions I didn't know what I was getting into. First of all, I had to learn a new language, adapt to a different climate and a different culture. I was in the middle of nowhere, with people I had very little association with, but all these things pan out and work out eventually, you know.”

Secondary school in Moyne in the Latin School would be considered tough by contemporary standards. Transport and recreation were very different to today: “We didn't find it hard, really, because we didn't know any better. We came to school on an old bicycle in rain, hail and snow from Drumlish and Ballinamuck.

“You were happy with small things, like during the lunch hour we used to go down and play football in that dirty field. You were to your knees in muck and you didn't mind that. There were mornings we came in and we were drenched wet, but you didn't think very much of it,” he says.
Fr Pat fondly recalls the educational grounding in Moyne: “It was a different time for teaching. All of the teachers, in their own way, left a lasting impression on us. Fr McGee was gifted, he had a great humanity. He lived amongst the people and he lived for sport.

“We used to tease him about sport, I was from a different parish and we used to play each other. He would say: “Lennon, don't mention football to me the next day you come in, because the whole class will be spent discussing it"."

Fr Pat Lennon, celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination on Sunday afternoon last, June 11 in St Mary’s Church, Legga followed by a parish event.