17-01 2021 19:45
wrote:
Farewell Michael:
a tribute, on the occasion of the death of Fr Michael Kelly SJ, 15th January 2021.
Michael, you have left us; and there has been an outbreak of grieving, in Ireland and Zambia, in Africa and throughout the world. You were ready to move on these last 10 years, though we weren’t ready to let you go. In July 2011, on the operating table, you had what you described later as ‘a life and death experience’. And these last 10 years have been a gift, the gift of you to us. You made all of us who knew you, especially those of us who were lucky to pass through Lusaka over the last five years and spend some hours with you at Luwisha House, feel valued, special and loved.
In the early years of the annual Fr Michael Kelly HIV and AIDS lectures, your focus was very much on advocating for women and youth, especially in Africa; on education as the vaccine against HIV; and on giving a voice to the experiences of the communities affected by HIV, especially LGBTs. And you analysed the structural determinants of injustice, with wisdom and acuity.
In recent years, as the global focus shifted away from HIV, you continued to shine a light on the lives of ordinary people who were struggling for health and justice, making the connections between HIV and new global priorities. We are thankful that your synapses stayed young; and that your heart stayed strong, right up to your most recent Fr Michael Kelly HIV and AIDS lecture, just 6 weeks ago.
I do have to confess that I felt a little jealous of you at times – all the admiration and love you attracted, especially from the women who cared so much for you. It was the women in the global health and HIV communities, more than the men, who really ‘got you’. They saw most clearly your specialness; how you combined such a great intellect with a huge heart; and the clarity of your vision, inflamed by your compassion, in the service of justice. So any tinge of jealousy was overwhelmed by admiration. You were someone to learn from, and to want to emulate.
Perhaps greater than your achievements since your so-called retirement, some decades ago, was the witness you gave on how to live a life. What motivated you, and what you demonstrated to us, was the compassion and commitment to justice shown by that other man who walked the earth, two thousand years ago. It was also the women in his life who ‘got him’. Later, the men pushed the women aside. You worked for that to no longer happen.
You never had time for the tributes we wished to pay you. All your focus was on those in need and on those who advocated and struggled for justice, to make the world a better place. We know you would much prefer to give comfort to those of us you have left behind. So let me end with some words that you wrote about your near death experience on the operating table.
“I have no recollection of anything very religious about this, no memory of thinking explicitly of God other than the basic certainty that I was going to him. It made me wonder why we fear death so much and whether everybody, as they actually die, does not experience a similar peace and even joy because they know they are going home to their Father who loves them so much”.
Farewell Michael.
Ruairi
17-01 2021 19:45
wrote:
Farewell Michael:
a tribute, on the occasion of the death of Fr Michael Kelly SJ, 15th January 2021.
Michael, you have left us; and there has been an outbreak of grieving, in Ireland and Zambia, in Africa and throughout the world. You were ready to move on these last 10 years, though we weren’t ready to let you go. In July 2011, on the operating table, you had what you described later as ‘a life and death experience’. And these last 10 years have been a gift, the gift of you to us. You made all of us who knew you, especially those of us who were lucky to pass through Lusaka over the last five years and spend some hours with you at Luwisha House, feel valued, special and loved.
In the early years of the annual Fr Michael Kelly HIV and AIDS lectures, your focus was very much on advocating for women and youth, especially in Africa; on education as the vaccine against HIV; and on giving a voice to the experiences of the communities affected by HIV, especially LGBTs. And you analysed the structural determinants of injustice, with wisdom and acuity.
In recent years, as the global focus shifted away from HIV, you continued to shine a light on the lives of ordinary people who were struggling for health and justice, making the connections between HIV and new global priorities. We are thankful that your synapses stayed young; and that your heart stayed strong, right up to your most recent Fr Michael Kelly HIV and AIDS lecture, just 6 weeks ago.
I do have to confess that I felt a little jealous of you at times – all the admiration and love you attracted, especially from the women who cared so much for you. It was the women in the global health and HIV communities, more than the men, who really ‘got you’. They saw most clearly your specialness; how you combined such a great intellect with a huge heart; and the clarity of your vision, inflamed by your compassion, in the service of justice. So any tinge of jealousy was overwhelmed by admiration. You were someone to learn from, and to want to emulate.
Perhaps greater than your achievements since your so-called retirement, some decades ago, was the witness you gave on how to live a life. What motivated you, and what you demonstrated to us, was the compassion and commitment to justice shown by that other man who walked the earth, two thousand years ago. It was also the women in his life who ‘got him’. Later, the men pushed the women aside. You worked for that to no longer happen.
You never had time for the tributes we wished to pay you. All your focus was on those in need and on those who advocated and struggled for justice, to make the world a better place. We know you would much prefer to give comfort to those of us you have left behind. So let me end with some words that you wrote about your near death experience on the operating table.
“I have no recollection of anything very religious about this, no memory of thinking explicitly of God other than the basic certainty that I was going to him. It made me wonder why we fear death so much and whether everybody, as they actually die, does not experience a similar peace and even joy because they know they are going home to their Father who loves them so much”.
Farewell Michael.
Ruairi
