For the important events in our lives like births, deaths and marriages, we can be lost for words because we want to say not only the right words but also the best words. We acknowledge that the deepest personal sentiments that we have are not unique to ourselves but paradoxically felt by other people because of our common humanity.
So a few words about Fr Noel Connolly, Columban missionary priest, from one (me) who shared a lot of life with him and were friends into the bargain.
Noel was looking forward to retirement in Brisbane after his commitment to the Plenary Council was finished. I wondered what he would do, his capacity for work was enormous, he loved it, he thrived on the responsibilities he shouldered and he loved to argue.
He liked to test opinions and be involved in a good argument about most things, especially politics. Coming from a working-class background in Gympie, Queensland, he was a loyal Labour supporter throughout his life.
Friendship and loyalty were very important to Noel, evidenced by the hundreds of messages received on the announcement of his death. He was good to his friends and they were good him. He visited them regularly and stayed in touch when he was living out of reach.
Noel had high standards of confidentiality that I experienced first hand during the many years I worked with him in administration.
He liked to entertain friends, enjoyed cooking for them and drinking red wine. Because he was busy and in high demand, there was never enough time to entertain as much as he would have liked.
Adding to his busy schedule Noel decided to run marathons or was it one marathon as a test of strength and endurance. In his first marathon, (unsure if this was the only marathon) he struggled to the line and fell down. He asked an official if he had finished. The official told him to pull his feet over the line to complete it, which he did. He loved to compete even against himself.
When we were on the General Council together in Dublin, Noel and I joined a gym in Raheny. Noel suggested that we enter a loss weight competition in the gym. We both entered the competition with another couple of men who were keen to win also.
Noel discovered that the body weighs less in the morning than the evening, so we weighed in at 6:30 am when the gym opened. We won the competition by a whisker, whatever a whisker weighs; it was a thrill. The losers accused us of cheating but the gym manager told them to do their homework like the Aussies did!
I am saddened by Noel's death but am grateful for the memories that will stay with me.
I will miss you, Noel.
Rest in peace
Columban Fr Gary Walker is currently living at the Columban house in Sandgate, Brisbane.