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Father Treacy

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At the close of our recent AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS Retreat, each participant took essential oil with myrrh and traced a cross in the palm of another with the words, "Be anointed with the cross of cross; go and tell the Good News.” Fr. William Treacy, senior priest of the archdiocese had accompanied us on our weekend journey. He’d presided at Mass, taken the role of Jesus to Betsey’s Story Dance of the Woman at the Well, walked with us as we paced the Stations of the Cross, and he was there for our final blessing.the oil made its way around the circle, it came to one last person, Fr. Treacy. It was nearly 70 years ago that this man was anointed a priest by his bishop in Ireland. In those 70 years, he has anointed the sick and the dying and applied the sacred chrism to the heads of babies at Baptism and catechumens at Confirmation. How could I possibly presume to anoint this man of God?  As I approached, he caught my eye and I said

know this has been done before ...would you allow me please to anoint you?” With his characteristic twinkle and gentle smile he nodded his assent. What humility to receive from me what he has already possessed and given for so long and so well.

Perhaps one of the markers of the Holy Spirit is the muddled line between gift and giver, teacher and student, serving and receiving. On the weekend just past, I received far more than I gave, I know, yet am blessed with the knowledge that others feel the same. God’s love poured out like oil, pressed out and overflowing—abundant. The pictures posted to this site—provided by Sharie Bowman, give a glimpse of that love. The memories they reinforce will be cherished by me for a very long time—as will the example of humility and generosity exemplified by this dear friend and priest.  Dia ghuit, a stor cara