Rev Gary Hastings honoured by Church of Ireland community

Rev Gary hastings honoured by Church of Ireland community


Áine Ryan
 
PARISHIONER Eric Bourke told Reverend Gary Hastings on his arrival in Westport more than 14 years ago that he would be ready to leave when ‘he got a handle on all the Bourkes’.
 “Well,” said Gary Hastings at his farewell function last week, “I know their seed, breed and generation by now, so it’s time to go.”
In his characteristic informal and warm style, Reverend Gary Hastings told the gathering that his ‘kids were reared here and went to school here’, and ‘it’s been a big chunk of our lives, so we won’t forget the place’.
“We have friends here and many pleasant memories. We were very fortunate in landing here. Westport is a very friendly place, and people make room for you and welcome you, and it isn’t just from the teeth out. A five minute trip to get the paper, or a message up the town could take over an hour, sometimes, because everyone spoke to you on the way,” said the departing Church of Ireland pastor.
Unsurprisingly, he mentioned ‘the competition over the road in the presbytery’, with whom he had a warm personal and working relationship
“Fathers Denis, Micheál and Francis and their predecessors were very kind and welcoming and did us more than one good turn over the years. Between borrowing bottles of communion wine and candles when the need arose, and music and feeds and blessings and functions, and swapping churches, and good advice, they have been the best of friends and colleagues, and if that’s not ecumenism, I don’t know what is,“ he said.
“I include in that all the priests from Ballycroy to Leenane and further afield. I have only ever received courtesy and respect and a good welcome from all of them. I would like to thank them all, and also the ‘parish priest’, Archbishop Michael Neary,” concluded Gary, before thanking the organisers of the going-away event.
Speaking earlier, Ms June Bourke, on behalf of the parishioners of Holy Trinity Church, gave a special welcome to Gary, Cathriona, Conn and Caitlin Hasintgs, attending priests, and Cllr Myles Staunton, Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council.
“Tonight is tinged with sadness as we bid farewell to Gary and Cathriona whom we are all very fond of. Gary was appointed rector of this union of parishes in March 1995, we did not know what to expect,”  said June Bourke.
She continued: “He was born and brought up in loyalist East Belfast, he is an accomplished musician and a native Irish speaker – however, it did not take long to realise that Gary would fit in perfectly in the parish and the wider community. This was confirmed for me when I met Sean Mulroy and he said ‘Your new rector is one sound man’.”
June Bourke proceeded to observe that the Rev Hastings became noted for his ability to ‘deliver a deep truth with a light touch and a good deal of humour’.