“I wish it wasn’t like this. I wish I could shake your hands and say goodbye.”
A parish priest with incurable cancer has issued an emotional online farewell to his parishioners as he announced his retirement from his role.
Fr Gerald Galvin, parish priest of Muintir Bháire in West Cork since 2009, said he had “no choice left” but to create the video.
He posted the video online on Sunday where he said he had incurable cancer in his bones and lungs. He said he was in pain and having trouble sleeping.
“I wish it wasn’t like this. I wish I could shake your hands and say goodbye,” he said.
“But I can’t. I don’t have the energy anymore.”
According to the Irish Examiner, Fr Galvin’s retirement was officially announced by the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Fintan Gavin, last week and was one of a number of changes in the area.
Fr Galvin spoke of his joy of working with the community and how he had learned from them and the children of the schools in the parish.
“Their endless ability to surprise me is a wonderful thing,” he said
He added that “cancer will not be my life; cancer is not my life,” while thanking everyone for the emotional and financial support they had offered him over the years.
“I will treasure your prayers and I will never forget the people of this parish, the people of my parish. God bless you and thank you,” he said.
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