October 30, 2009
In Remembrance:
Father Joseph Hurley, Catholic priest, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Seaford, passed away today, peacefully in his sleep.
He exited this world as gently as he walked it. A most gracious, happy, holy man. The light of his smile and laughter brought joy and comfort to his flock. He was a simple parish priest, beloved and loved. He served the Lord Jesus Christ as a humble servant and reflected Jesus’ love for him back to all he met.
He epitomized the beauty, strength and endurance of God’s priests on earth. Not a mean bone in his body, he brought nothing but light and love to an often mean world. He was a Catholic priest in the finest tradition of the priesthood. His quiet, loving, prayerful demeanor reflected the strength of Jesus-that love and kindness and beauty trump the evils of the secular world.
He represented the best of the many fine Catholic priests I have known. Doing their duty to God and their flock, under the incessant hammering of a secular world obsessed with finding fault with the Catholic Church and its priestly servants. And of course they find it. They could probably have found it in Father Hurley if they looked hard enough. We are all sinners. But some, like Father Hurley, rose above that ugliness to present to God the finest gift he possessed-his own loving, self-sacrificing self.
Father Hurley was a model of the Catholic priests who continue to do God’s will and their duty as they harken to Christ’s comforting promise:
“Yours truly, I say to you, you are Peter [Rock], and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
His Church is the Catholic Church, and His priests are men like Father Hurley. Goodbye and God Bless You Father Hurley. You were indeed a “Rock” for Christ and His people. Fare you well, and pray for us.
Yours truly,
Michael J. Mulrine
