COMMENT: Fr Charlie McDonnell, a man for all seasons

Fr Charlie McDonnell will be missed in Westport parish. He left Westport last Friday to take up duty in Athenry, but not before leaving a lasting imprint on the hearts and minds of countless people of all ages in the area. Charlie, as he was affectionately called, is different.
He is big in stature but a giant when it comes to heart. He is all heart. He has that gentle-giant quality that is as rare as it is special. Being a priest in a busy parish is one thing, but in a parish like Westport the demands are always greater.
Westport is not only home to the annual Croagh Patrick, or Reek, pilgrimage, it is also a busy tourist destination. All of these aspects create their own set of demands.
Add to this the fact that Westport, once home to four priests plus one in Lecanvey, is now down to one full-time priest. The demands are endless. Charlie always did his best to be ‘all things to all people’. He was tireless in his commitment to the people of the parish.
Alongside his big heart, Charlie is blessed with a great pair of lungs. You can always hear him, even when he uses a whisper to make a point or when he prays during the consecration. He is a tempest, a storm, a hurricane but also a gentle breeze. He knows which way the wind blows just as much as he can ‘shoot the breeze’.
Among his many gifts, two stood out during his sojourn in Westport. He was a brilliant preacher. He spoke to the point and was always honest. These are the gifts of a man who, when he preaches, also preaches to himself. He never set himself above others when speaking to them. His words are as much for himself as they are for the congregation. We are all in the same boat.
One of Maynooth’s greatest Homiletic Professors, Ronan Drury, would advise students: “If you don’t strike oil after a couple of minutes, stop boring.” Charlie was never boring. He struck oil every time.
The only complaint was that you could never get a copy of his sermons because he didn’t write them out. He lived his words and walked with them beforehand, remembered the main points and, when preaching, let the Holy Spirit in on the act.
His other great gift was his sense of acceptance of differences. Even within the Catholic Church we have people who see things differently. If I may use those terrible terms, we swing from the traditional wing to the liberal wing and all in between.
Charlie is blind to those labels. He sees people in terms of their sincerity, honesty and genuine attempts to deepen their faith. He makes room for everyone, allowing each to be enabled to express their beliefs in a sacred space and respectful manner. That takes some doing in the Catholic Church of today, where we have pre-Vatican II devotees ‘competing’ with Vatican II and Synodality enthusiasts, all worshipping the same God, albeit wearing ‘different coats’.
For many people, Charlie’s greatest gift is his presence at life’s most sacred moments – births, marriages and deaths. Many have a memory of Charlie being there when we needed to see him or hear him. He has that sense of bringing calmness and sense, especially at times of death when our grief wounds are open and raw. He brings a touch of balm at these times.
Has he faults? Yes, like the rest of us. He would be the first in the queue to acknowledge that he is not perfect… yet! He’s a work in progress. So are we all, even his fiercest critics.
There was some statement at his farewell in the Castlecourt Hotel judging by the number of young people present. They were there for their man. He has a unique manner of being able to tune into younger people. Being social-media aware he still lives out his priesthood, using words to spread the Word, rather than just being an ‘influencer’ or attempting to get ‘hits’.
We were blessed with Charlie’s presence. Beannachtaí air agus ad multos annos.