Oblate News

Remembering Louis McDermott OMI

A short biography by Fr Tom McCabe OMI

Fr Louis McDermott OMI 1944-2022

Louis (Luke) McDermott was born in Dublin on 5 March 1944. A proud North County man, he played football for his native Garristown at every level through school and club, and as a Dublin minor.
At the end of primary school, he moved on to Belcamp College on Dublin’s Northside for his secondary education.
Leaving Certificate completed, he entered the Oblate Novitiate at Ardagh, Co. Limerick in September 1963. After the Novitiate, he moved to Belmont House, the Oblate Scholasticate near Stillorgan, where he studied philosophy. Two years later, he moved to the senior scholasticate at Piltown, Co. Kilkenny to study theology. He was ordained to priesthood there by Bishop Peter Birch on 21 December 1969.

Louis was fortunate to come under the influence of the great Oblate theologian and fomator, David N. Power, and to become enthused by his dream of a renewed Church emerging from the vision and direction of the Second Vatican Council. When he received his first appointment to Holy Cross in Liverpool’s docklands, he relished the opportunity this offered him to begin pastoral life imbued with that vision.
The ability to concentrate on the task at hand with occasionally ‘impatient’ determination to see it through that marked Louis’ sporting career has also coloured his highly effective pastoral leadership throughout his Oblate life.
He had no personal academic pretensions but he was brilliant at engaging with relevant academics to analyse and understand the needs of the communities he served. I remember especially how he engaged with Prof Conor Ward and the Dept of Social Science at UCD during his time in Darndale. I remember also how he helped a marginalised community that was at risk from unfair publicity to develop a strategy to successfully neutralise that danger.
Ultimately, I think that the real secret of his success was that he loved the people he served, was always available, helpful and humble.
Sabbatical time in India and the Philippines helped deepen his spiritual journey, particularly through developing the practice of meditation.
‘Solas na bhFlaitheas Go bhFeice sé Agus Ceol na nAingeal go gCloise sé’.

Appointments
1970 – ‘76 Holy Cross Parish, Liverpool
1976 – ‘89 Mary Immaculate Parish, Darndale, Dublin
1989 – ‘90 Sabbatical: Philippines & India
1990 – ‘90 (Aug-Dec) St Bueno’s Retreat Centre, Wales
1990 – ‘97 Norris Green, Liverpool: Special Ministry
1997 – ‘10 Holy Family Parish, Southampton
2010 – ‘22 St Michael’s/Inchicore/Bluebell —
Centre of Mission
2022 — OMI Community, House of Retreat,
Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore

You may watch back the recording of the Reception of Fr Louis to St Michael’s Parish Church here:

https://www.churchservices.tv/bulfinroad/archive/recordings/QWJNh2R3drFaZeA

And the recording of the Celebration Mass of the Life of Fr Louis here on the St Michael’s parish webcam:

https://www.churchservices.tv/bulfinroad

https://www.churchservices.tv/bulfinroad/archive/recordings/ysdQLFSThw5nk6o