Homily by Most Rev Bishop Philip Boyce

Funeral of Mgr Andrew Carrabin, 4th May 2004

St Mary’s, Frosses

 “I am the Good Shepherd” (Jn 10:11 ). 

            We chose this Gospel because our dear friend and brother priest, Mgr Andrew Carrabin, departed this life on Good Shepherd Sunday.  Mgr Carrabin (or, “Andy”, as he was familiarly known to his fellow priests) was himself, in imitation of Christ his Master, a good shepherd of souls, a true priest, a dedicated pastor and friend.

             He now enjoys the reward of his long and faithful stewardship. No sermon he ever preached is as powerful as the one of his life.  A model of total commitment to priestly duty, a universal friend, a gentleman at all times.  He has left us in Eastertide to join the Alleluia chorus in the mansions of heaven.  We are reminded of famous words by St Augustine that sound so pertinent.  He says:  “How happy will  be our shout of Alleluia there, ...where there is no enemy , where no friend perishes.  There praise is offered to God, and here too, but here by men who are anxious, there by those who are free from care; here by those who must die, there by men who will live forever.  Here praise is offered in hope, there by those who enjoy the reality; here by those who are pilgrims on the way, there by whose who have reached their own country. So, brethren, let us now sing Alleluia...” *(Sermon 256)

             Yes, for I am sure that our friend and companion of many years, would wish us to sing Alleluia.  Mgr Carrabin has gone towards fulfilment, not to defeat; to consummation, not to collapse.  Death haunts those who view it as a journey into nothingness.  When looked on with the eyes of faith it is, despite the fear and pain, a passage to a better and a higher life, a doorway to immortality, a coming home to rest in God.  For in heaven we shall all rest in God for whom we were made.  Until then, our hearts will be restless until with God and all our dear ones.  We shall be at rest.

             Only our Catholic faith and liturgy enable us to celebrate death.  Otherwise the subject of death is hushed up in an enigmatic  and embarrassed silence.  

            But Mgr Carrabin’s life is an encouragement to us on how worthwhile it is to spend one’s day in faithful, dedicated service.  Faithfulness and dedication are two gems, costly but ever so rewarding.  If a person wishes to be faithful and committed, he must place the needs and welfare of others before his own pleasure and comfort.  To be faithful does not demand much physical strength, but does demand strength of character. To be committed to work and to the service of others, one need not be a genius, but one does require a fair share of self-effacing generosity and thoughtfulness.  To be faithful in dedicated service of others when one is given a prominent position in the community is especially praiseworthy.  It has a mark of real greatness. The Lord himself gave the supreme example and said:  “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:26-28).  Mgr Carrabin was a good shepherd, who did not spare himself. 

             As we assist at the funeral of a life well lived, in this case a long and dedicated life, it is powerfully brought home to us the importance of our fleeting days, how vital it is not to stray amid selfish pleasures and comforts, but to fill our days with works of goodness and kindness.  “The charms of prosperity must not lead us astray; (as we were reminded recently by St Gregory the Great) for only a foolish traveller, when he sees pleasant fields on his way, forgets to go on towards his destination” (Homily 14).

             Mgr Carrabin had a distinguished career but it was always lived in a happy humility and dedicated commitment to God and to his duties.  On 2nd September 1912 , a son was born to Patrick Carrabin and Margaret Clancy.  It was in the village of Drimatumpher , Frosses, Inver.  He was given the name Andrew in baptism.  After his initial school days in Frosses National School , he went to St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny (1926-1931).  From there, he went as a Seminarian to St Patrick’s College, Maynooth (1931-1938).  He was ordained a priest by the Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin , Dr Wall, on 19th June 1938 .  He then spent three years in Rome studying at the Lateran University , where he obtained a Licentiate and a Doctorate in Canon Law.  Indeed, he was the Canonist of the Diocese for many years, working in cases in the Marriage Tribunal until he was eighty years of age.

             After his postgraduate studies in Rome , he had an adventurous journey to the United States at the approach of the Second World War.  He travelled via Lisbon in Portugal , skirted the coast of Africa and crossed the Atlantic to California .  There he served for 8 years in the Diocese of Monterey-Fresno, before returning home.  His first appointment was in St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, where as Spiritual Director for two years and then as bursar and teacher for 15 years.  His work in those years brought him into contact with many boys and their families from all over the county.  In years when food was scarce and things were harsh in comparison to modern ways, Mgr Carrabin was always respected and loved by the boys.  In order to have a sufficient number of pennies for the school year, he learned as bursar to live frugally and to work beyond the call of duty, sacrificing summer holiday weeks in manual work of his own hands, in the maintenance and repairs of the building.

             He was a gentleman, refined by a life of prayer and kindness.  Always totally dedicated to his duties, he was self-forgetful, humble and gentle.  He was very popular with the students and had a fine sense of humour.  The result was that he was a friend of all and highly regarded at all times.  Indeed, many of his priest colleagues, even those senior to himself, when in any difficulty and in need of advice, would turn to him.

            Not only was he a good canonist, but he also had a treasury of historical knowledge, much of which has unfortunately passed with him.

             In parishes, he served as Administrator in the Cathedral for 6 years (1966-1972); as Parish Priest of Killybegs from 1972-1976; then as Parish Priest of Tawnawilly ( Donegal Town ) for 13 years (1976-1989).  He then retired as Parish Priest, but served as Assistant Priest in Clar for 7 years (1989-1996), when he retired completely and came to live in Frosses.  In 1978 he was made a Monsignor and since December 1998 was Archdeacon of the Cathedral Chapter.

             May this liturgical celebration of this Funeral Mass deepen our faith and confirm our hope in the promise of immortal life and complete fulfilment, and strengthen our resolve to live well, to work diligently and to serve the Church with loyalty and devotion.  May the noble soul of Mgr Carrabin, Andy our brother, rest in eternal peace along with the Saints and with all the priests who served in our Diocese throughout the centuries.  He had a good influence on all during his life;  may he continue that from his place of rest with God.  

                                                                            Eternal rest grant unto him, o Lord....