Fr Luke O'Reilly RIP

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Fr Luke O'Reilly (1915 - 2008)

Luke O'Reilly was born on 24 September 1915 at Pollea, Wlliamstown, Co. Galway. He was educated at Pollredmond NS and St Jarlath's College, Tuam. He came to Dalgan Park, Shrule, Co. Galway in 1934 and was ordained priest there on 21 December 1940. During the war years he served in Holy Cross Parish, Bristol, in the Diocese of Clifton.

In 1946 he was appointed to Nancheng Diocese in China and ministered in Lichwan and Kiutu.  Arrested by Communist forces in 1950, he was publicly tried and placed under house arrest. In 1952 he was imprisoned in a military compound and was expelled from China in February 1953. He later described those years in detail in his part of the book ...'But not conquered' (1958).

After some time recovering his health in the USA, Luke was assigned to promotion work in Britain from 1956-1961. Then he was assigned to Ireland where he became manager of The Far East magazine, and served two terms on the Director's Council. In 1978 he was appointed to Glasgow and spent ten years in pastoral ministry and promotion work.  During all those years he was much in demand as a retreat master for diocesan priests and religious. He retired to Ireland in 1992.

Luke wrote two more books The Laughter and the Weeping (1991) and Passing the Torch (1996). Reading those books is like listening to Luke in full flow.  He was an expert story-teller, with a good sense of humour and his love and admiration for the Chinese people shone through everything he wrote. As conditions eased in China he had the joy of visiting old friends there. He supported them from his meagre funds and never ceased to pray for them. He may have spent only seven years in all in China, but his heart was always there. He died on 19 November 2008.

May he rest in peace.