Fr Joe McShane was born in Barrhead, Paisley Diocese but he studied and was ordained for in priesthood in Argyll and the Isles. One year ago fr Joe’s funeral was celebrated in St john’s, Barrhead and this evening we gather in one of his former parishes – St Mary and Glenfinnan – to pray for him. I welcome his sister Margaret, brother Hugh and nephew Gerard, as well as our diocesan priests and people.

As a young priest in St Charles, Paisley I remember meeting Joe for the first time. He certainly made a big impression. His nephew Kevin told me of how they would visit Glenfinnan and how the hill was cleared outside this Church. My cousin Pat was on a walking holiday with a few friends and after Sunday Mass he stopped his car and ran them to Mallaig. There are many stories of Joe’s influence on people.

A great gift of Christian Faith is hope. Hope is based on God’s love and mercy. Do we claim this just to make ourselves feel better? No! Hope doesn’t deceive because Jesus died for sinners - not the perfect. How do we know? We have Spirit of God within us. He lives in us. This is the hope Fr Joe witnessed to and this is our hope tonight.

Fr Joe is famous for clearing a hill. Yet he often celebrated Mass among the mountains. In the Old Testament a mountain is a sign of God’s presence. Isaiah described a banquet of rich food: heaven. In the Gospel John declared that the Eucharist is the Bread of Life In quiet places like here Fr Joe celebrated Mass. Jesus drew strength with his bond with the Father. We can draw strength through the Eucharist and deepen our union with God eventually leading to perfect union in heaven for eternity. This is what Fr Joe proclaimed and we pray that it is now his reality.