Fr Aidan passed away yesterday having fallen in Medjugorje. He had been a Passionist priest in Crossgar up until last year before he was moved to Dublin. I last saw him at the Divine mercy conference in March. Originally from the glens of Antim, he was a late vocation and had been to Medjugore over 100 times. May he rest in peace.
Fr. Aidan had recently become Parish Priest in Mount Argus, Dublin. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the Mercy of God Rest in Peace. Amen.
There are great saints, holy priests, even within our own dioceses. Such a one was Fr. Lou Aiello, who was a newbie priest who had to fill-in at Geralyn's and my wedding in 1983, as our preferred priest could not make it. Forty years later, when the "committee of 1o" was about to axe me from the diaconate formation program because of my physical limitations, he made a persuasive argument in my favor, and I was allowed to proceed. Then part of my training took place at the Loretto Nursing Home, where he would come on the weekend to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy. Afterwards, he would sit me down for a half-hour of personal mentoring in order to help influence my diaconate classmates in his behalf. Fr. Lou was a great advocate of Vatican II, but he did discretely warn our diaconate class about wolves-in-sheep clothing within the clergy. May we always recall and honor the wonderful priests who have influenced our lives! Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Lou, O Lord. and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen!
