FATHER Patrick McHugh lived a life of joy amidst hardships, suffering and trauma, until his last breath on December 30, 2013.
His funeral Mass was held at St Stephen’s Cathedral on January 3.
Fr McHugh was ordained to the priesthood at St Stephen’s Cathedral on June 29, 1959, and Archbishop Mark Coleridge received his body into the cathedral once more, this time into eternal joy and rest.
Fr McHugh was responsible for building St Catherine’s Church, Wishart, in the 1970s.
He spent several years moving around the archdiocese, including time at Wavell Heights, Booval, Gympie, Lutwyche, Gatton, Wishart, the cathedral, Beenleigh, Dutton Park, Nundah, Darra/Jindalee and Villa Maria.
He retired in 2003, and spent his last years at Emmaus retirement village before dying peacefully on December 30.
Brisbane priest Fr John Sullivan was in the seminary when he met Fr McHugh, and gave a touching homily at the funeral Mass.
“Knowing something of the hardships, pain and suffering and trauma that led to his ordination, I think he would have walked into this cathedral on that occasion with the same joy that’s mentioned in the entrance hymn, All people that on Earth do Dwell,” Fr Sullivan said.
“All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; Him serve with love, his praise forth tell, Come we before him, and rejoice.”
Fr Sullivan said Fr McHugh had such “childlike simplicity of faith” and needed to “very often come before the Lord”.
Fr Sullivan said Fr McHugh had three bones – a backbone, a funny bone and a wishbone.
“He had a backbone – no matter what, he wanted to be a priest, he wanted to survive until the end, and he did exactly that,” Fr Sullivan said.
On having a funny bone, Fr Sullivan said Fr McHugh, who truly knew what suffering meant, was always joyful.
“He had an extraordinary sense of humour, a very quick wit,” he said.
“He would occasionally say, ‘It takes a lot to get me angry, but God help us when I do’.
“And a wishbone – he wished and desired and yearned so much to build that Church of St Catherine’s at Wishart.”
His body was taken to St Catherine’s for a Vigil Mass the night before his funeral.
Reflecting on Pope Francis’ challenge for priests to “smell of the sheep” and be real pastors of the soul, Fr Sullivan said Fr McHugh “knew that already”.
“He’d done it all his priestly life.”
