Bishop Lenny is Laid to Rest

Thousands of people both priests and laity from all parts of the Archdiocese of Armagh were united in mourning at the funeral of Bishop Francis Lenny in St. Patrick's Cathedral on Wednesday. In overcast weather, crowds filed past the open coffin from early morning until shortly before noon when the lying-in-state concluded. On Tuesday night the remains were removed from the late Bishop's parish at Mullavilly to the Cathedral. The long funeral procession had come the eight miles from the church at Mullavilly where 49-year-old Dr. Lenny had been P.P. for the last six years. The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr. Tomas O Fiaich, in cope and mitre, received the coffin at the Cathedral entrance. It was then borne by six priests, three of whom were ordained by Bishop Lenny last year, to rest on a black draped cataflaque before the High Altar. Present at the ceremony was the Bishop of Brentwood, Most Rev. Dr. Patrick Casey, representing the British Hierarchy. After Solemn Mass, celebrated by Most Rev. Monsignor James Lennon, P.P., V.G., Drogheda, the lid was removed from the simple coffin of solid oak to reveal the Bishop dressed in chasuble and mitre. Shortly afterwards the first mourners began filing past. During the Mass, Scouts from the First Armagh St. Patrick's Troop, formed a guard of honour around the catafalque. After the Solemn Requiem Mass on Wednesday, Bishop Lenny was buried in the small cemetery beside his church at Mullavilly. Amongst the hundreds of sympathy messages received by Archbishop O Fiaich was one from the Taoiseach, Mr. Jack Lynch. Councillors representing all shades of political opinion on the Council have paid a silent tribute to Bishop Lenny. And a message of sympathy is to be sent the Church authorities.

The remains of Dr. Francis Lenny, Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh, were laid to rest in a tiny churchyard at his he-loved Mullavilly amid the south Armagh apple groves yesterday afternoon. Clergy and public representatives from North and South of the Border travelled to the townland, eight miles from Armagh, to pay tribute to the59-year-old bishop. Hundreds of the parishioners that he had known as parish priest of Kilmore and Mullavilly for the past six years also converged on the 18th century church to honour the man they had recalled as "wee Fr. Lenny." They came from Cornacriebe, Mullyahead, Lisaveague, Ballylisk, and Brackagh, braving the wind and intermittent rain in their mantillas, box hats, overalls and Sunday suits, to bid a final farewell,  "Will that field hold the motors?" the red faced man who was in charge of the stubble field-cum-car park next to the church, asked as he saw the parishioners arrive in droves. It held the motors but nothing could hold the sorrow that relatives and friends felt as they broke down around the graveside. Dr. Tomas O Fialch had summed it up when during the Requiem Mass prior to the funeral he described Dr. Lenny as a selfless man devoted to his flock. Dr. O Fialch said he had traveled all over the world as secretary to two Cardinals but he had always retained his great love for and interest in the people of Armagh.  He had been honoured by the church but he still remained the modest, unassuming gentle man that always endeared him to his people. The Archbishop said that his own association with Dr. Lenny showed him in this light. He had first met him In 1953 when he had taken him under his wing as a newly ordained priest in Maynooth. When the Holy Father appointed him to the See of Armagh he found that Dr. Lenny had again been there to ease him through the initial difficulties. He was a tireless and unceasing worker for the people and the Church, Dr.0 Fiaich said. " He was tried and tested in the mire of suffering and pain which he endured in the last nine months of his life," Dr. O Fiaich added, " and he proved a shining example of resignation to God's will." A grey, heavy pall hung over the neat, hilly south Armagh countryside as the people who had known Dr. Lenny best filed into the narrow Mullavilly cul-de-sac with some of the most prominent clergy in the country to offer a final prayer. " Let us pray with confidence to God, who gives life to all things, that he will raise up this mortal body to the perfection and company of the saints," they said in unison with Dr. O Fiaich. The attendance at the Mass and funeral included: the Papal Nuncio, Most Rev. Gaetano Allibrandi, Bishop Patrick Casey, Secretary of the Episcopal Conference of England and Wales; the Bishop of Down and Conor, Most Rev. William Philbin; the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, Most Rev. Cahal Daly; the Bishop of Derry, Most Rev. Edward Daly; the Bishop of Dromore, Most Rev. Gerard F.Brooks; the Bishop of Kilmore, Most Rev. Francis McKiernan; the Bishop of Raphoe, Most Rev. Anthony McFeely; the Bishop of Clogher, Most Rev Patrick Mulligan; the Bishop of Meath, Most Rev. John McCormack; the Bishop of Ossory, Most Rev. Peter Birch; The bishop of Ferns Most Rev. Donal Herlihy; the Bishop of Kerry, Most Rev. Kevin McNamara; the Bishop of Elfin, Most Rev. Dominic Conway and the Bishop of Achonry, Most Rev. Thomas Flynn. The Ven. Archdeacon Crooks represented the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Most Rev. G. O. Simms. Dr. O Fiach presided at the Requiem Mass, assisted by Fr. P. J. Early, a first cousin of Dr. Lenny and Fr. Liam McEntaggart, a class mate. The Minister of State, Mr. Tom Fitzpatrirk, represented the Taoiseach and the Government. Mr. Austin Currie attended on behalf of the SDLP