Homily by Columban Fr John Hegerty for the Funeral Mass of Fr Leo Donnelly SSC.
Lima, Peru. 4th February, 2014.
Three years ago Fr Leo Donnelly did me the honour of preaching at my 40th anniversary Mass. It is now my privilege to return the favour. I only hope you (Fr Leo) weren’t as nervous then as I am now. Today I hope to capture and share, with you, the message and witness of Fr Leo Donnelly in two readings – Love of Neighbour and the Kingdom of God.
I will begin by saying that Fr Leo's life was a great, big life; just like his hands and heart. Leo loved, worked and served in nine parishes in Peru; along the coast in Lima, in the mountains at Huasahuasi (where today the flags are flying at halfmast and the bells of the Church are sounding, there is to be a Mass of Thanksgiving this afternoon) and in the jungle at Tamshiyacu. 
Fr Leo Donnelly was a Columban missionary priest for over 50 years but he also painted, wrote poetry (The Responsorial Psalm today is his), gardened and published pastoral/theological articles in the Irish-Catholic journal, The Furrow.
A friend had once said to him: "If you see a wrong and do nothing about it, you are an accessory, part of the problem." Love in Fr Leo took on many forms. Fraternal correction was always, I can testify given firmly and clearly and with kindness. He had a soft spot for women of whatever age or status. This I suspect came, at least in part, for his love and pride in his mum who had been orphaned very early, put into domestic service at twelve, and treated very poorly.
He loved art, music, nature, beer and driving at very high speeds. To his friends he was loyal.
One example is Leonidas, a deaf-mute who worked with him in the jungle. When Leo returned to Lima he brought Leonidas with him to the Holy Spirit parish and later to the Centre house where he was given the opportunity of new work. Another is the friend to whom he dedicated his last years, Columban Fr John O’Connell. 
Leo's passion was for the Kingdom of God on Earth and its three pillars.
Compassion
When Leo was assigned to the parish of St Martin de Porres, a union of unjustly-fired workers occupied the temple to effect their hunger strike. When the police arrived, with orders to remove them, Leo refused the police access out of compassion for the workers and their plight. Leo reacted just as Jesus would, but in another time and temple. It was the plea of the workers themselves that then persuaded Leo to open the doors. This experience, at first, broke him and then converted him.
Forgiveness
Mass and Communion are sources of forgiveness for all. Nobody is to be denied or excluded from participating fully.
Inclusion
One of Leo's life-long messages is: 'We all share the same dignity’. In Huasahuasi during its years of terror, Fr Leo was present to accompany and give the people heart. With courage he assisted many victims of terrorist slaughters including his country-woman, Sr Irene McCormack’s, a Josephite Sister, who was murdered.
Leo wore 'the smell of the sheep', be it the sacristan or the mayor, the catechist or those who attended him in the parish house, the Centre House or the hospital. If we want to look for a summary of Leo’s message we could not do better than read and listen to Pope Francis’ latest letter: The Joy of the Gospel - it is all there!
Finally, I want to make reference to Leo the mystic. Leo had an image of life as a circle. He began his mission in Peru, attending the haciendas of the northern side of the capital, to his final appointment in the parish of Holy Archangels. Back to where he started. It is for this reason that Fr Leo requested that he be waked and farewelled from here. 
On Tuesday morning Leo made a gesture that I only came to understand this morning when preparing these few words. He had removed his oxygen mask and tried to tell me something. I could not quite understand. We replaced the mask, he thought for a moment and then held up two fingers horizontally, as if asking for a drink. He moved his fingers to say: No! Next he held up the same two fingers vertically, and gave a thumbs-up, saying: Yes!. His cup was full. It was enough. Now Lord you can let your servant go in peace.
Thank you Leo on behalf of all here, and the many who could not make it.
May you rest in peace great friend.
Columban Fr John Hegerty SSC has been a missionary in Peru since 1971.
Read another article on the late Fr Leo Donnelly: A life given for others
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