I feel drawn to young people with special needs and am always happy to share music with them. Living in Galway provides this opportunity and I have had the pleasure of playing at different liturgies in the Faith and Light group. This led to my having the privilege of going to Lourdes with the group as a volunteer, in June 2011.  Faith and Light is run by volunteers and provides support for adults with special needs.

The pilgrimage had the extra dimension of being an international one, and it was a joy to be part of such a vibrant group.  Their excitement at meeting and greeting one another was palpable and contagious.

Whether it was serendipity or the universe sharing an especially good day, it turned out that parishioners from the diocese of Clogher were on pilgrimage at the same time.  Delight piled upon delight when we realised that the great peacemaker, John Hume, and his wife, Pat, were staying in the same hotel as our group.  John showed his lovely openness as he walked and chatted with anyone he met in the hotel, or on the streets.  Pat was always close by, keeping a watchful eye on proceedings.  It was clear that she was his guardian angel.

John Hume on the left, joining in the singing, and Evelyn on the right leading the music (Photographer unknown)

Lourdes is not just about bathing in holy water or saying prayers as there was a party and a sing song in the hotel each night.  John was usually in the middle of it and sang every song.  He really came into his own when it came to “The Town I Loved so well.”

We were privileged to be in the presence of someone so great and so humble – John Hume.

We are blessed indeed to have our singing friend in heaven!

Evelyn Horan rsm
Western Province