Parish Priest issues a passionate ‘repentance’ call to drug dealers

At the outset of his homily at the Funeral Mass for Owen McKeown in All Saints on Friday, Parish Priest Patrick Delargy said that had been the sentiment expressed to him by many people in the wake of the 21-year-old’s demise in the River Bann at Kilrea on May 5.

Fr Delargy said it was “not quite true” that Owen was ‘no saint’.

“A saint is someone called to be close to God. On the way to God we need to be saved because we are all sinners in need of help. Owen was no different”.

A pupil of All Saints’ Primary School and St Patrick’s College, Fr Delargy said Owen was given, at home and at school, good example and good guidance and that for many years “he responded well”.

“As a youngster he was full of life and fun. He loved clothes, music and food. He had a very warm loving nature which was obvious to those who knew him. He wanted to be liked and he was ready to please.

“That desire to please was also a weakness, as the future was to reveal,” said Fr. Delargy. “He got too close to situations and people who led young people to drug abuse and too often he could not say No.

“Being morally courageous is a big challenge for many youngsters in Ballymena nowadays. You can learn hard lessons from these tragic events; how giving in to temptation can lead to terror and blackmail and violence and sorrow. You can learn a more hopeful message from our faith,” said Fr Delargy.

“What might have stood between him and God’s love? You could say that Owen fell into dangerous company because of his own weaknesses and because of the area he came from. This judgement is not quite true either. Lots of good people live in Dunclug, his own family in particular.

“They come to Church and try to do what is right and help each other and support the poor in other parts of the world. They are supported today by many good people who only wish them and each other the very best in life”.

Fr Delargy pointed out that while Parish organisations have many contacts in Dunclug, “the secret is not all about getting help from outside”.

“People on the ground are learning how to help themselves and are developing more ways of supporting what is good and overcoming what is evil. In a strange way Owen’s tragic death can be a stimulus to them to do even better,” he said.

“...If Owen were to speak to this community out of the depths now, I think he might quote from the Baptism Ceremony. He would say especially to those who lead others astray, Listen to God’s word. Remember the gospel stories you heard at school and in Church.

“Remember the story of Zacchaeus who became rich by exploiting others. Remember how he met Jesus and repented and gave recompense to the people he had damaged, and so saved his soul.

“There are dealers in Ballymena today who have a chance to repent from their sins as Zacchaeus did. It is not outlandish nor naïve to ask them to seize this opportunity. Ill gotten gains bring greedy people to corruption and ruin far from God’s grace. Their bad influence causes young people to seek false joys and to risk their health and their very lives.

“Owen would also say to his friends from beyond the grave, ‘Speak the truth’. Stand up for Christ’s good news yourselves. Don’t go down the lonely fearful road to sudden and sordid death. Remember the promises of Baptism. Have moral courage. Speak out against exploitation and for constructive community building.

“Finally Owen would say, ‘Live by the word of God’. Many already do great work in helping others to rehabilitate. Join with them, volunteer to assist. Strive to overcome any addiction, help others from your own experience. If even one or two people listen and are converted, his life will not have been in vain.

“Some may think I am talking sentimental nonsense when I appeal to the gang leaders to make restitution from their wealth for the rehabilitation of others. But it has happened in the past,” said Fr Delargy.

“It’s never too late to find the right way. I know for a fact that Owen tried to repent himself...It did not work out as he would have wished. You could say he failed, but his intentions were good and he did ask for help from the Lord.

“All these recent sad experiences remind us that failures and weaknesses affect each one of us. It’s how we handle the situation that will define our future”.