This statement by Father Pat Deegan to our Manchester
Club was made on more than one occasion. The message, discussed at our meetings,
was passed on to priests of the St Bonaventure Deanery who made the decision to have exposition available from Monday to Friday
at different times in different Churches. Our Editor kindly wrote (Focus Nov
2007) that I was responsible for this, however, the real reason for it lies with the deep devotion of Father Pat for exposition. This is his story.
Every second Sunday the Deegan
family went to visit Grandma; she lived in the St. Ward district of Co Dublin. After
a meal she would take the children for a walk in the fields, telling them stories about St. John Vianney, St. John Bosco and
St. Francis. She would tell them all about the plants and then stop and ask them
to listen. All strained their ears, looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders
and tell her they could hear nothing. She would then say, “Its God`s orchestra,
the birds.”. Grandma had a deep love for the Holy Eucharist.
The family said the Rosary
daily and Mr Deegan took them to Benediction, which increased Fr. Pat`s affection for the Blessed Sacrament Exposed.
Pat became a member of the Legion of Mary in the Morning Star Praesidium and worked in a hospital next door
to the Morning Star Hostel. He was approached by Bro Tom Doyle who asked him
to move into the hostel overnight for two weeks to help out. He stayed for three
years, (1980 – 1983) Before entering St Patrick`s Seminary in 1984 Pat
worked in Iceland as a lay Missionary for the Legion.
By the time of his Ordination
in 1990, Fr Pat had been drawn even nearer to his love of the Blesssed Sacrament , inspired by Fr Paddy Sanfie who rose each
morning at 6.30 to spend two hours before the sacrament. He was also inspired
by Bishop Fulton Sheen. In 1994 he was sent by Bishop Kelly to the USA to study
for his MA in counselling Psychology. On his return and after a spell on the
Staff of Ushaw College , he arrived at Our Lady`s , Moss Side, Manchester in 2002. He
found a depleted church in a deprived area.. There was a moratorium on spending
in the Salford Diocese. Money could only be spent on essential repairs. Coming out of the ice-box of a church one day, yet burning internally with desire
to create a Chapel of Perpetual Exposition, he said, “Lord, if you want this, you`ll have to help me.” As he turned and walked away, he heard a voice say, “Look in the store-room.” He looked. It was full of jumble and all sorts of things that
people of my age save because it might come in useful. The willing hands of Tony
Kirstein, John Martin and Fr Pat`s twin brother, Martin, all figured in emptying and preparing the room, but the window was
a problem. It needed replacing.
A Mr Cunningham had just come out of hospital
when his wife was taken ill and had to be hospitalised in her turn. On December
29 Mr Cunningham telephoned to say his wife had died. Fr Pat`s prayers for financial
assistance were answered in in an unexpected way. Mr Cunningham`s son came to
arrange his mother`s funeral. Arrangements made and as he was leaving he said
he would like to make a donation to the church, was anything needed? Fr Pat suggested
something towards the cost of the new window and Mr Cunningham enquired as to the total amount required . When told it would be £360 he donated £1000
Martin came over from Ireland,
bringing wth him the hand-made tabernacle. Along with Tony and John they set
about, after the new window had been installed, transforming the room into a fitting sanctuary for Our Blessed Lord.
If you visit the Chapel,
look in the visitors` book and you will see that worshippers come from near and far to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in
this chapel of peace dedicated to Mrs Cunningham.
The Lord`s good work has
been repeated in Fr Pat`s other parish in Stretford. But that`s another story!
THE ARCHITECT
OF THIS WONDERFUL EXPANSION OF
EXPOSITION OF
THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO WHOM WE INCREASINGLY
PRAY
If you would like to pay a visit to the Chapel,
please telephone before-hand and you will be most welcome (0161 226 1730)
