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VERY REV. FR TIM BUCKLEY, C.S.Sp

5 Years in Mind

9/28/2012

 

 Very Reverend Father Timothy Michael Buckley was born on September 19, 1924 to Irish parents.  He began and concluded his secondary education between 1939 and 1943 at Rockwell College, Cashel, County Tripperary Ireland.  Father Buckley studied philosophy at Kimmage Mano, Dublin.  After his theological studies, on July 15, 1951, he was ordained a Catholic Priest at Holy Cross Seminary, Clanlife, Dublin and celebrated his Mass of Thanksgiving (First Mass) on July 16, 1951 on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

 Very Rev. Fr. Tim Buckley lived the life of a legend.  Before the time of his death on October 1, 2007, after 56 years of apostleship in Nigeria he was described by many whose lives he touched especially in Igbo land as a living legend.

 In the words of Christian Ochiama, a few traits characterize the life of this man who gave his all to God and humanity.  Daddy Buck as most people came to know him was humble to a fault. An insignificant example will suffice.  At his old age, Father Buckley insisted on clearing his own dishes after meal.  In the culture of his home of origin, this is normal.  But for us in this part of the world, where house helps and aides are symbols of affluence, and yet this man turned his back to them.

 One can then begin to assess the level of his humility which he took a step further by living a Spartan life of self-denial making do with barest necessities.  The bible tells us that givers never lack.  Father Buckley practicalized it in an amazing way.  Life of charity became, for him, a norm, a dictum desiratum.  He gave all his money, food and life to God and humanity.  Giving to the poor became the essence of his living to the point that even on his sick bed he was still giving to fellow inmates whom he had reason to believe were less privileged.  He combined a life of charity with what could be described as a punishing spiritual schedule that guided his existence on earth to the last.

 Ever so ready to bless, Father Buckley was willing to hear one’s confession even while he was talking a walk round the compound.  Great him, and the response you get is “Have you said your Rosary today?”  Such was his commitment and dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  For him, time and space can have meaning only to the extent that they enhance spiritual life.

 His love for children can be likened, in all humility, and at the risk of sounding blasphemous, to the affection Jesus himself had for those little ones he (Daddy Buck) aptly called “Ndi Ogu Jesus” (Soldiers of Jesus).  At the news of his death, what one hears is, Oh! This father baptized me!  This father paid my school fees!  He was indeed the commander of the Soldiers of Jesus.

 Father Buckley privately enjoyed two passions in his life time; love of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the love of Nigeria, his adopted country.  Could it have been a mere coincidence then that he died on October 1, 2007, Nigeria’s National day and a day set aside by Catholics for the celebration of the Blessed Lady as the Queen and Patroness of Nigeria.

 But how did this odyssey start?  Young Revered Father Timothy Buckley in the company of fellow zestful missionaries landed on the shores of Nigeria on October, 1952 barely one year after his ordination the previous year.  Undaunted by challenges of the task ahead which demanded personal sacrifice and risk to life, Buckley started his missionary journey into the uncharted territory that Igbo land then was, an environment replete with doubts, suspicion and anxiety by a  people who were not sufficiently enamored by the civilizing of the white man’s God  as the perception was then.  In Igbo land where he lived and worked, the zeal he brought to his assignment, the commitment and dedication soon endeared him to the people of the stations he operated in at one time or the other.

 These people in what is today Enugu and Awgu Dioceses have not stopped paying glowing tributes to the then Archbishop Charles Heerey for his foresight in putting a round peg in a round hole.  This pioneering role has remained a reference point till date because one of his spiritual sons, His Lordship, Rt Rev. Dr. John Ifeanyichukwu Okoye sits on the Episcopal Chair of Awgu Diocese.

 Fr. Buckley continued his enterprise for Christ which took him to Owelli, St. Paul’s Eke, Sacred Heart Iwollo and Holy Ghost Parish, Enugu.  Even at the peak of the Nigerian/Biafran War, he was a source of succor to the victims of a fratricidal war.  But the climax of his life as an evangelist was in 1975 when he was posted to St Joseph’s Parish, Emene, where he was to spend 32 years of his life, achieving unprecedented feats.  So deep was the intimacy of the relationship he established with the parishioners that he wished to be buried among them and the wish was granted him as he was buried beside the Grotto of Our Lady, Mother of Perpetual Succor   at  the premises of  St Joseph Catholic Church, Emene on 18th October, 2007.

 The last of the Titans, whom Rev Fr. Edmund Kanife described as the “Spiritan Missionary of the Old Brigade” has now joined the saints triumphant. Soon very soon, the beatification process will commence for he was the quintessence of a true missionary who lived a saintly life. 

 In his tribute, Fr. Wilfred Agubuchie stated that he perceived the blessed throng of missionaries, the glorious band of apostles, the noble company of prophets, the sweet song of the choirs of angles, the white-robed martyrs as they marched to welcome Daddy Buck into the heavenly family of God’s people.

 Fr. Joseph Offor said Fr. Buckley came to Nigeria and fought a good fight for Jesus Christ, and he conquered.  His life was poured away as a libation for many.  He would indeed concur with St. Paul: “I have fought a good fight to the end; I have kept the faith, all there is to come for me now is the crown of uprightness which the Lord, the upright judge, will give to me on that day”. (2 Tim., 4:7).

 To sum it all, Fr. Humphrey Ani, in his funeral oration noted that the death of saints is not a tragedy of existential annihilation.  It is a transition into bliss that also leaves transforming legacies of love truly lived.  Fr. Buckley was such a man.  Here was a man who gave all to all.  He spent 56 years of his life here, away from his people; never owned a personal bank account, never owned more than a pair of shoes or sandals at any time; and had only two trousers and suites by choice for all the time I knew him.  He will go hungry to feed the hungry.  Ever contended; and never wanted to be a burden to anyone that when once robbers snatched his watch, he resorted to carrying a table clock to keep time for duties, until after two days before he found out a new wrist watch was provided for him.

 One will go on and on talking about all the tributes paid to Fr. Buckley . I promise to comment on most of them with time.  For a start, click here to read the tribute by Daughters of Divine Love, DRACC Community, St Joseph Parish, Emene.

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