Euology for Fr Myles Kavanagh CP

Fr Myles Kavanagh CP

Fr John Friel CP gave the following Euology during the Funeral Vigil for Fr Myles Kavanagh CP at Holy Cross Retreat, Ardoyne Belfast on 13th November 2024.

The boss is gone. These past few days and indeed over many years people had various names for Myles but regardless of whether they were overtly positive or mildly critical, none of them could in anyway question that he lived his life with passion probably from the very beginning. We also called him John Wayne, he had a particular swagger, did you notice that,,,,,,, we always felt that that belt he wore could easy have had double guns on it…. he was well able to face things. We also referred to him in this community as the real rector…..and he loved that.

The past couple of days has been an utter privilege listening to the testimonies the stories, the emotions, the enthusiasm, the gratitude, the funny stories, scary stories, the troubles, it's been a myriad of listening to a life well lived. A life well lived for others. He was a man for others it was heartwarming, and it was personally really encouraging listening to the stories these past few days.

Myles was a Passionist to the core I remember as a fifteen year old standing in my home in Derry thinking of becoming a Passionist and he arrived at the door and among the many things he asked me……one of them was, "how much do you really want this" he wanted to engage always with people who also had passion and he didn't tolerate very much if you didn't have the passion. He was immersed in the Spirituality of the Cross he had a particular sensitivity like a radar for where there was suffering where people were in pain, informed by his core Passionist Spirituality. So when he was assigned to Ardoyne to Holy Cross back in the 70's he found a people more burdened than they should have been with suffering of all kinds. We always say this parish is aptly named Holy Cross. What did he do he rolled his sleeves up and emersed himself in the work but ended up literally falling in love with the people, and I mean that as no exaggeration at all, he fell in love with the people and with the place. I don't want The Dubliners to get too offended by what I'm about to say but I have to say I will defend it, Myles was born in Dublin - but he was made in the Independent Republic of Ardoyne. This place shaped him and he in turn gave it everything….everything to the end. Initially in his role as pastor and Parish priest and then as founder and leader, along with sister Mary Turley, and a trusty team of many others, founded the Flax Trust an amazing organisation that served to meet the practical needs of deprived people and they lived with a particular model which said "peace one person at a time" His interest went beyond the Catholic community to embrace all people of suffering. Myles had the ability……. you may have noticed some of you, he was a bit of a recruiter, you noticed how he recruited people all over the place…..because he knew that you need others you cannot go it alone. He once took me aside as a young priest and he said to me "John when you face adversity don't face it alone get a gang around you," Myles's gang was the Flax Trust and I hope we were part of his gang as well.

He had this amazing ability to infect others with his enthusiasms he spoke also to me of how the deprivation of the people and the hurts that he witnessed also made him angry, very angry at times, but it wasn't a useless bitter anger it was an anger that he used to energise his drive to be that man for others. As Passionists we often talk about seeing with one glance the Crucified One and at the same time the crucified of today, that we can see that with one glance. He could do that. His anger and frustration of the injustices that he witnessed drove him to help find light and life in the midst of darkness and suffering, he sought resurrection in the face of death, he believed in hope and not in despair. But he also believed that hope was not something that you simply prayed about, but hope is something that you work very hard for. Myles has run the good race he is fought for the voiceless, he is enabled the downtrodden, he has spread hope wherever he walked.

On Sunday last he gave up his spirit to the Crucified Risen Lord whom he so faithfully followed to the end. I believe that he will hear these words now……"come Myles come forward, for when I was hungry you gave me something to eat. Myles when I was thirsty you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you took me in."