Tuesday 27 October 2015

FATHER EUGENE O'HAGAN - A BRIEF PORTRAIT

FATHER EUGENE O'HAGAN - A BRIEF PORTRAIT


Eugene O'Hagan is a priest of the Diocese of Down and Connor, a canon lawyer and the diocesan chancellor ad interim.

The reason that Eugene in the chancellor as interim is that the previous chancellor - Father John McManus is in Limbo - in spite of the fact that the Catholic Church no longer teaches Limbo as a doctrine. John McManus has been under investigation and Down and Connor has not yet fully decided his fate. Most people think that the McManus goose is cooked!

John McManus - Among the D&C "Disappeared"
Eugene is from Claudy in Derry and he attended Garron Tower, Queen's University Belfast and the Irish College in Rome. He spent 7 years in Rome and specialised in canon law. 

Eugene was from a musically talented family and was born with talent


A young Eugene
Those who knew Eugene as a child describe him as being extremely likable, industrious and bright.


A slightly older Eugene
It would be a mistake to think that Eugene only became in performing with the establishment of THE PRIESTS. Eugene sang with several choirs and he and the other two members of THE PRIESTS did a lot of singing when they were together in seminary. Their early nickname as a trio was HOLY, HOLY, HOLY.

WHAT IS EUGENE LIKE AS A PERSON?

I have met Eugene on a small number of occasions and I have also corresponded with him - mainly in his role as a conduit to the Bishop of Down and Connor.

I would say that Eugene is quiet and reserved and in official matters he is a listener rather than a talker. 

He always looks frail and pale and I certainly have the impression that he works far too hard and does not get an awful lot of time to relax. I imagine he can "let his hair down" but would be extremely careful in whose company he would do that.

Eugene (middle) with Big D and Little H

One of his many jobs is to be the PP of Ballyclare Parish which is not far from where I live. He is popular there with his parishioners .

Above all, as a canon lawyer, I would say that Eugene is 100% a "company man" and would do anything his seniors in the Church would ask him to do. I imagine that he has an unquestioning faith in the Roman Catholic Church. Personally I think that is a bad thing.

Currently he is Bishop Treanor's right hand man. Priests I have talked to about Eugene tell me that when it comes to Treanor - Eugene - is HMV - his master's voice.

Is Eugene ambitious for promotion? I would say that Eugene is not without ambition and aspiration - but he is not absolutely driven by it like some others. I think he would like to be rewarded for his faithfulness and work but if he is not he will continue doing his duties well.

Will he be a bishop? I think he has a good chance of becoming a bishop. In fact the priests of Down and Connor would certainly prefer him to be their new auxiliary bishop rather than a certain Father Bartlett.

The problem is that if Eugene became a bishop where would Noel Treanor find a work horse like him to do all his duties?


Recently I wrote to Noel Treanor via Eugene about my invitation to attend the diocesan Year of Mercy event and I had an email from Eugene telling me that I was not invited:

Dear Pat, thanks for your email re the forthcoming Conference in Dromantine. I  have advised the Bishop of same and have, at his request,  checked with the Living Church office. 

The Living Church office issued postal invitations to the clergy of the diocese and I can confirm your name was not included in the list of invited clergy and the office has no record of a letter being sent to you. I can only reasonably conclude that the invitation you received is not genuine. 

I'm grateful to you Pat for checking with the Diocese about the correspondence you received and I trust this clarifies things for you. 

Sincerely

Eugene

A priest I showed it to said to me: "Pat that is one of the nicest ways I ever heard anyone being told to F... Off"  :-)

So we should not think that Eugene is totally bereft of muscle under that pallid skin. 

If Eugene attacked you the attack would feel more like a cat scratch than a dog bite :-)





31 comments:

  1. MourneManMichael27 October 2015 at 15:36

    I know nothing about the man other than through your blogs Pat, ........and one other experience!
    I attended the funeral mass of an old school friend a couple of years ago where Eugene was officiating. I'd neither heard of him or 'The Priests' before, and frankly "my head was done in" with his singing! It came over as solely an opportunity for him to perform and demonstrate his prowess oblivious of the perceptions and priorities of the congregation!
    MMM

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    Replies
    1. Thats a pity MMM. I suppose there is always a danger of an element of narcissism when you have some talent.

      Maybe when Eugene reads you comment he might pause and reflect and be more conscious of these dangers the next time.

      We all need to examine ourselves and sometimes those who offer constructive criticism are really among our friends,

      Delete
    2. If you thought Eugene was OTT at self promoting singing at Mass you should have known Sean Rogan in his hay day.

      PP D&C

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    3. Eugene has a talent-he might as well use it....

      Delete
  2. I feel that for once I'm at opposite sides with MMM on this one. I was also at a funeral for an old friend and Eugene was the cantor. His singing was very good and I felt enhanced the ceremony.

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    1. Music is so important - especially on important occasions like weddings and funerals.

      Delete
    2. As a clerical colleague of Eugene's I believe that Eugene would be ruthless in following the orders of his Church superiors.

      Priest of D&C

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    3. Father, I suspect you might be right. This comes I suppose from too much respect for canon law (man made) and an unquestioning belief in the institutional church - "My mother, right or wrong".

      Thats why I think Eugene has a good chance of wearing a mitre.

      Delete
    4. Fr Constantine Bile27 October 2015 at 17:31

      My Lord Bishop, I would remind you that the Catholic Church is the ONE TRUE CHURCH founded by Jesus Christ and protected for all time by him.

      Canon Law is not "man made". It is, like the Bible, inspired by God and is based on the unerring doctrines of the Church.

      Canon Law is a continuing Revelation by God to mankind.

      As such Canon Law is as binding on Catholics as is the Bible and the Tradition of the Church.

      Delete
    5. Why then was it a "mortal sin" to eat meat on Fridays when I was growing up but is no longer even a "venial" sin? Obviously God had a change of mind / heart or is he just showing special care for the income of the farming community?

      Delete
    6. MourneManMichael27 October 2015 at 18:42

      I'm intrigued as to where this antediluvian bilious fellow has sprung from. His recent appearance and opinionated rants while giving some amusement to myself and friends nevertheless are a concern lest anyone of a simple unquestioning mind take any of his beliefs at face value: or worse still if he has any position of authority allowing him to promote his narrow views to an unquestioning quasi dependent audience
      Can anyone shed any light here? .
      MMM

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  3. Canon law. As a cradle Catholic now in his 50s can I tell you Fr Bile what I and everyone I know thinks about canon law. We couldn't give a **** !!!

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  4. Can I tell you Con that canon law is as relevant to the man and woman on the street as the rules and regulations of the Coleraine and District Homing Pigeon Society. Where was Gods protection for the church when all the child abusers were ordained into the "sacred" priesthood. Was he having a wee nap those days? All made up as you go along. All man made nonsense. Claptrap.

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    1. Fr Constantine Bile27 October 2015 at 18:13

      God has decided, since he gave us free will, not to interfere with our freedom - even our freedom to sin.

      But God can bring good - even out of evil.

      The Church - and those in it - are still "a work in progress".

      Eventually good will come of all evil.

      Sadly you do not seem to have the FAITH.

      Fr C Bile

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    2. The only good that I can see coming out of the evil of all the recent scandals is the good that more and more people will see through the institutional Catholic church for what it is - a man made empire centred around power, control and wealth.

      Many will head off and put "church" behind them altogether.

      A minority of us will seek to recreate the early church as a community of believers who like Jesus were powerless, had no control and were not interested in establishing a kingdom of this world.

      I imagine a largish "Roman Catholic" rump will remain around in some form and in some places and will continue very much to be a kingdom of this world.

      Spirituality is primary and religion (organised) is very often evil.

      "God wants spiritual fruits - not religious nuts".

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    3. To get back to our beloved Eugene...... He will always be part of the "rump" you refer to.

      PP D&C

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    4. "Men have shown that they prefer darkness to light.............and rump to fillet"

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    5. Pat, "spirituality" can be very bit as screwed up as "religion". Satanism is a form of spirituality. In fact, a lot of spirituality today is nebulous and swallows every fad going without discernment of spirits.

      The word 'religion' has a fair amount of baggage - it is true. However, religion can also be - and has been - and is - a great force for good in human life and history.

      The "Roman Catholic Church" is multi-faceted. The majority of Christians who are part of it, seek to build God's Kingdom as best they can. They are not part of 'the kingdom of this world'.

      You have created for yourself this bug bear, this whipping post, of the institutional Church. There are aspects of the institutional Church that we all find problematic. However, it is not all bleak. The weeds and the wheat.

      You cannot recreate the early Church. There is no need anyhow. And life in the early Church was also problematic. As Christians, we must seek to build the Kingdom of God in the here and now.

      Delete
  5. "God has decided,since he gave us free will not to interfere with our freedom" So says Fr Bile. How do you know what God decided. How could a human being know what God has or hasn't decided. Once again made up claptrap to suit the needs of the RC church and it's mindless moronic followers like Rev Bile. Away and catch yersel on Connie boy

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    1. Fr Constantine Bile27 October 2015 at 19:09

      We know what God decided through Revelation - God has revealed to us through His Revelation what he has decided.

      That Revelation has been communicated to us in the Bible through the history of his chosen people - the Jews.

      He completed his Revelation in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ - God and Man.

      That Revelation continues in his One True Church - the Catholic Church with the Successor of St Peter - the Pope - at its head.

      You either accept that or you do not. If you do not you are placing your eternal destiny in peril.

      I will not be the one squirming and begging at the Gates of Heaven!

      Fr C Bile

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  6. MourneManMichael27 October 2015 at 20:04

    Like that analysis@ 18:27 Pat. I think it's a likely outcome.
    MMM

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  7. Fr Bile. You are more to be pitied than to be laughed at !! Poor chap.
    Dalriada Dick

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    1. Fr Constantine Bile27 October 2015 at 21:47

      Will you be saying that when I am in the "Bosom of Abraham" and you are not?

      You can mock me all you like. But I rely on God and not on public opinion.

      Fr C Bile.

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    2. Squeezed between his breasts, Father?

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    3. Fr Bile, you are committing the sin of presumption!

      Delete
  8. Abraham was a good jewish man I doubt very much if he would want a bigoted aul catholic priest anywhere near his diddies

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  9. Ach wee Eugene bless his cotton socks. I knew him in Rome. If he werent himself (hows that for Irish) he could be a Daniel O Donnell understudy -lovely man we Danny too. Didnt he-(danny) look well on Strictly!

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  10. Eugene is a church man and a bishops man,through and through.
    PP Co Down

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  11. I agree and I believe that one of the things which might preclude his from the episcopate is his evening job- the singing!
    PE D+C

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  12. Pat, why haven't the priests who sign off as p.p. on your blog the guts to give their names? Some people might think its you replying to yourself.

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