Born on the 18th September, 1919, in Irvinestown, a picturesque North of Ireland town in County Fermanagh, Hugh Clement Mahon was the fourth son in a family of eight boys and two girls, whose parents, Joseph and Mary Mahon (nee Montague), tirelessly worked the family farm and built up a prosperous hotel business. Their children were industrious, especially in the farm and Fr. Hugh showed an early aptitude for gardening and interior decorating, gifts used later as a priest, especially in Moodiesburn. In later years, he used to describe the never-ending, arduous task of washing beer glasses.
Both sides of the family supplied priests for the Church—Fr. P. A. McLoughlin and Fr. Joseph Montague, to mention only two: two older brothers preceded him in the priesthood, Fr. Joseph and Fr. Dermott. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Sacred Heart Church and Canon John Trainor, the parish priest, benefited by Fr. Hugh's early interest and labours; he helped his father collect a district collection, decorated the church and trained the altar boys.
The family's interest in Catholic education came from both sides of the family tree, which had both provided Catholic teachers; three of Fr. Hugh's generation are continuing the teaching tradition. To ensure the widest possible primary education, the Mahon children undertook a daily return cycle journey of ten miles in all weathers to the Catholic Primary School of Coa, where Mr. Austin Woods was headmaster, and the curriculum included French and musical sight-reading; secondary education entailed a longer journey by train to the Christian Brothers' School, Omagh, a school renowned for the standards demanded by the then headteacher, Brother Burke. Fr. Hugh spoke affectionately of both headmasters, though but for the driving force of his parents, the efforts of both schools would have been fruitless; he was an ordinary child, naturally lazy. In later years, he was conscious of the vast educational wastage in Scotland for which indifferent parents were very much responsible.
On entry to Thurles Seminary after completion of his secondary education, he thrived on music and scripture and featured prominently in the prize lists. Once again, his formation benefited by another giant among men, Dr. Thomas Morris, the present Archbishop of Cashel. The Mahon family was united once again on the 11th June, 1944, at the ordination of their third priest, Fr. Hugh.
His first appointments after ordination were both temporary—St. Mary's, Pollokshaws, and St. Palladius', Dalry. He was then appointed to St. Mark's, Shettleston, where he soon settled into parochial routine—visitation, the sick, administration of the sacraments, preaching—duties he faithfully fulfilled for twenty-seven years. Prompted by his artistic inclinations, he produced plays in harmonious collaboration with parishioners, showing an aptitude exceptional in one so young for critical drama judgment: he forecast a bright future for John Cairney, then an unknown actor from a neighbouring parish and now a well-known television dramatist.
Transferred to St. Augustine's, Langloan, in 1947, he began his service of the Langloan people under the benevolent leadership of Canon Macdonald. His first special responsibility was the youth, and, through his choice of excellent adult prefects, the attendance at the monthly communion rapidly increased. Due to his infectious love of music and drama, a successful Minstrel Troupe was formed which in time provided the nucleus of the church choir. Inspired by their talented chaplain, two musicals, “Annie Get Your Gun " and “Call Me Madam " were produced, keenly remembered even today in Langloan.
His gift of working harmoniously with the laity was used in his spiritual direction of the Legion of Mary. Not content with senior and junior praesidia, he formed an altar boys' praesidium: the work allocated during the weekly meeting comprised practices, devotions and mass. To keep pace with a rapidly expanding membership, the chaplain inaugurated a new set of work projects, the most important and lasting of which was the sale of Catholic pamphlets every Saturday at the Coatbridge Fountain. The book-barrow apostolate is still active, though help from other parishes is essential to assure its viability.
The Legion of Mary pioneered a Christmas Crib and Carol Service at the Fountain every Christmas Day, a project which was continued after Fr. Mahon's move to Mossend and has now developed into an ecumenical undertaking. Until his death, he faithfully visited the crib at the Fountain on Christmas Day.
While still in St. Augustine's, he was appointed a diocesan chaplain to the Legion of Mary with responsibility for the direction of all legionaries within his area. On his appointment to Moodiesburn, his resignation was reluctantly accepted by Bishop Scanlan.
Fr. Mahon was eventually appointed chaplain of the active Catholic Men's Society in St. Augustine's, a position he relished because of his interest in the intellectual formation of the laity. His energy soon involved the young men in the reconstruction of the parish hall and in a consequent use of the premises for smokers and dances: approached by the women of the parish, Fr. Mahon began the Union of Catholic Mothers and built up the organisation by means of a monthly social. Each year, at Christmas, he brought all the societies into one united effort through a parochial Sale of Work. He also inaugurated a Catholic Social Guild.
The Marian Year was the occasion of a Rosary Rally in the West End Park instigated by Fr. Mahon; St. Augustine's supplied stewards, amplification on the processional route, and countless workers to decorate the altar and statue. During the procession, the rosary was said and the rally culminated with benediction of the Blessed Sacrament; 45,000 people from the immediate area attended.
In 1957 the admirable combination of Fr. Mahon and St. Augustine's was concluded on his transfer to Holy Family, Mossend, considered by him to be one of the best parishes in the diocese. Once again he threw himself into the life of a new parish, which benefited considerably by his organising ability; he was missed, especially by the parish priest, Fr. Kelly, on his appointment in 1960 as first parish priest of St. Michael's, Moodiesburn.
He was well prepared for his new task: in his far-seeing, thorough fashion, he had been collecting second-hand furniture. Before arrival in his new presbytery at 53 Glenburn Avenue, the furniture was in place in a freshly decorated house, due to the kind services of Fr. Lucey, Fr. Carey and Fr. Smith of Muirhead, who had organised a willing band of workers and ensured Fr. Mahon a comfortable first night in his parish.
Fr. Mahon's well-furnished house was situated in an expanding parish with divided loyalties (initially 1,000 souls) without a focal point: the 250 primary children travelled daily five miles for education. The first priority was a Sunday Mass centre, provided on his second Sunday in St. Michael's by use of the Auchengeich Miners' Welfare Hall; after the granting of permission for an oratory in the council house, every service, funerals excepted, was available within the parish boundary. Every Saturday night and on the eves of feasts, weddings and First Communions, a rota of cleaners and the parish priest decorated the hall and the altar, which was always covered with immaculate linen; latterly, the parishioners with the exception of feasts, coped alone. Bishop Scanlan said mass on two occasions in the Welfare Hall, and on the second occasion, an overflow of children from the packed hall sat on the stage around the altar and within touching distance of the bishop.
A nucleus of workers, many of whom are still active, was inherited from St. Barbara's, and soon grew into an active parish committee, a driving force for socials, sales of work, housey, and other worthwhile activities. A sub-committee was formed to lead the fight for the school.
Archbishop Scanlan cut the first sod of the church on 29th February, 1964, before 2,000 of a congregation, who had walked in procession from the council house accompanied by a pipe band. The amplification and excellent stewarding by the St. Vincent de Paul Society ensured visual and audible participation.
A Friday night outdoor collection was started, whose success was ensured for four years by the twenty mature collectors, all married men. Fr. Mahon was really happy on a Friday night receiving his new collectors, all dressed in their Sunday best: one collector, when questioned about his smart appearance, replied, "You can't do church work in your working clothes,” a remark which delighted the parish priest.
The new building progressed slowly, due to the intricacies of the structural engineering involved in the dome; the parish, however, accelerated into top gear in October 1964 with the realisation that the proposed Catholic primary school had been removed from the current building programme. Monthly meetings attended by 300 parishioners and weekly meetings of a sub-committee became a regular feature of parish life; the impossible, the commencement of the school, was realised with the use of the condemned Bridgend School and other temporary accommodation. The meetings continued, and, when acceptance of Comprehensive Education made the county's allocation for secondary schools obsolete, a new building for St. Michael's Primary was passed, which is now being used. Fr. Mahon was not actively engaged in the fight: his interest, his trust in his parishioners and his defence of their right to fight for a school. was inspired by his innate reverence of the laity and was in accordance with the feeling of Vatican II.
The extensive renovation of the Welfare Hall in 1965 transformed Sunday Mass into a weekly nightmare, and on one particular Sunday, rain poured into the hall through half-finished windows. Fr. Mahon stated his definite preference for the conventional asperges. Evening Mass on 15th August was celebrated in an atmosphere in keeping with the catacombs, caused by unfinished electrical wiring. The 21st November, 1965, brought joy and relief, as the parish priest celebrated the first mass and officiated at the first devotions in the new church. After adequate preparation, the church was officially opened on 24th April, 1966; Bishop Thomson was the principal celebrant and Archbishop Scanlan preached.
The parishioners and guests enthused over the merits of the circular church with perfect acoustics, proximity to the altar and impressively simple furnishings. Bishop Thomson summed up the general feeling in a letter included in the opening brochure: "The priest and people are gathered intimately around the altar in the offering of the sacrifice of the mass." Originally, a cruciform church had been planned by the architect, and when the site had proved too narrow to accommodate the planned building, Fr. Mahon mentioned the advisability of a circular church crowned by a statue of St. Michael, similar to the famous Castel Sant' Angelo in Rome. The new plan of Mr. Charles Gray, Edinburgh, was accepted immediately with an amendment, replacing the statue with a new spire. St. Michael's Church, Moodiesburn, comprises an outer circle of diameter 23yds., a concrete ring beam of coloured glass windows (diameter 14 yds.), supported by five concrete pillars and a roof of pre-cast concrete, topped by the spire; the building is 27 feet above ground level. The solid reinforced concrete structure assures Fr. Mahon of a lasting memorial.
The first priority in the new church was the liturgy, enhanced by the choir and Fr. Mahon's encouragement of hymn-singing. Congregational participation was a feature of the annual popular Corpus Christi procession, as the parishioners sang following the lead of the choir amplified through a discreet use of loudspeakers.
In June 1969, the parishioners united to honour Fr. Mahon on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee, and contributed to the presentation fund in an unprecedented manner: the Youth Club and the School gladly provided the concert. The illuminated address praised him unreservedly, mentioning his approachability, his interest in his parish and parishioners, and his charity, especially obvious in the pulpit and confessional: they gloried in his enlightened leadership and looked forward to many more years under his gentle care.
On 8th January, 1970, Fr. Mahon collapsed in Buchanan Street Bus Station, Glasgow, with a heart attack, no doubt accelerated by his efforts to mend a burst pipe during the small hours of the morning: such was his consideration that he made no attempt to waken his assistant priest, Fr. Small. He returned to the parish two months later with a renewed vigour, full of praise for the staff of the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, and for Fr. Bernard Lowe, C.P., the chaplain: he showed his appreciation to Fr. Lowe by having him preach the Forty Hours.
In September 1970, his assistant priest and friend since 1963, Fr. James Small, was transferred to Cleland and appointed chaplain to St. Aidan's High School, Wishaw: Bishop Thomson, aware of the excellent working relationship, explained in the letter intimating the transfer that he had sometimes reluctantly to disrupt working partnerships because of his responsibility for the whole diocese. Fr. Mahon welcomed Fr. Gerald McColgan to the parish and, within a short time, he and his assistant priest were extremely happy.
On the feast of Epiphany 1971, Fr. Mahon's back complaint which had affected him since the age of sixteen, struck him in a more acute and devastating manner, necessitating his removal to the Victoria Infirmary on 21st February. He suffered a heart attack on 4th March and was anointed by Fr. McColgan: he died the following day after a massive coronary failure, a death which shattered his parishioners and friends.
His body was received into the church he had built, on Monday evening, 8th March, 1971, by Bishop Thomson, the Mass of Reception being said by his friend, Fr. James Small. After the concelebrated Solemn Requiem the following morning (Bishop Thomson was the principal celebrant), the body was solemnly conveyed to Irvinestown for burial in the family grave: the Bishop, Fr. Lucey, Fr. McGlinchey and Fr. Small offered the concelebrated Requiem Mass after which he was laid to rest by the parish priest of Irvinestown, on the 10th March, 1971.
One of his main preoccupations was the fostering of vocations: his efforts played a big part in the vocation of two priests in the diocese, Fr. Lavery and Fr. McMurray. He hoped and prayed for vocations in St. Michael's, and, please God, young men inspired by his edifying priesthood will be ordained in that infant parish.
He was always concerned about his assistant and brother priests, and, while in Moodiesburn, he successfully insisted the assistant priest should have a telephone and a coal fire. He worked harmoniously with other priests, sharing weddings and other duties; his assistant was allowed full freedom of action in the parish.
His parishioners and his friends have lost a good friend on earth: praying for the repose of his soul, they are confident of soon having a friend in heaven. May he rest in peace. |
