Fr Seamus Maguire

This is a series of short stories by Fr Seamus Maguire that have been inspired, for the most part, by his experiences as chaplain at the San Fernando GeneralHospital.
Fr Seamus hopes that this series of anecdotes may help to foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Fr Seamus served the San Fernando Parish between 1995 and 2006. He has since returned to West Virginia, USA.

I must have met her occasionally on the street, in the church or in the hospital. “She knows you well,” I was told. But who Ethel was, was still a mystery to me.

Ethel had learned that the swelling in her stomach was cancerous, and naturally she was very worried. To me what was special about this lady named Ethel was that she was also Irish. We had something in common.

Irish or Trinidadian, the priest will always go to one who is seriously ill. This is another great privilege that belongs to every priest.

I dropped down to her house for the initial “chat”, and promised to return with some tapes and reading material.

Ethel would always try to be out of bed, as she received Holy Communion, but the day came when she was confined to bed permanently.

She was an Irish girl who met a “Trini” at Dublin University where he was getting his degree. “Trinis” are everywhere!

Her sister, who had come from Canada, was with Ethel for the final week or so of her life. The priest, when giving the Sacrament of the Sick or saying the old Catholic prayers always says them loud enough for all to hear, and leave it to God to allow someone to hear them, and be brought closer to Him.

How often have we heard an old priest talk of people, who have left their Catholic faith for many years, return upon hearing the old prayers of their youth, or the homily or prayers of the funeral. God longs for us to be with Him forever in Heaven. He will use anything to bring us back to Him – even a sad funeral.

May Ethel’s final act – long after her death – be “the touching” of some young man’s heart to give his life for the service of others.

“I have washed your feet, now go and do the same to others.”