Fr Brian D’Arcy goes under the knife

FATHER BRIAN D’Arcy Passionist Priest of the Graan, Enniskillen will be out of circulation ‘until Easter at least’ after undergoing a knee replacement operation last Wednesday at Altnagelvin Hospital.

Staff at the Graan confirmed that Fr D’Arcy will not be available for six weeks.

Speaking about his operation Fr Brian said: “It’s marvellous to have an opportunity to be free after 10 years of ever-increasing pain.”

Despite the fact Fr Brian will be off his feet, with more free time than usual, he admits he still has no plans to write an autobiography.

Writing in his Sunday World column Fr D’Arcy says he has refused to pen the book ‘despite serious pressure’.

“But if I ever give in, one of the chapters will be: How to sneak good people into Heaven.

“I’ll write about God’s mercy, God’s love, God’s promises and how the power freaks give him a bad name.”

In his column Fr D’Arcy reflected  on some of his own religious beliefs saying that ‘condemnation doesn’t come from God’.

And he explained, “Genuine sins cannot be listed, they are experienced.”

Fr D’Arcy continued “It’s always discouraging when penitents ramble through a list of sins which mean nothing to God or to anyone else.

“It’s so rewarding though, when young or old come into the room, sit down and chat about where they are in life. They often judge themselves too harshly.

“My task is to help them find their gifts, their talents and their goodness – and to be grateful for the grace they have received.

“More important still is to recognise that confessing as such is not the central part of the sacrament or the process. God’s mercy is.”

Father D’Arcy thanked everyone for their prayers and support while he has been in hospital and paid tribute to all the staff at the Altnagelvin Hospital.

“They are a credit to their profession,” he added.

Let us all hope he makes a speedy and healthy recovery.