Fr Thomas O'Hanlon SSC

Printer Friendly Page

Thomas R. O’Hanlon
(1945 - 2010)

Thomas (Tommy/ Tanvir) O’Hanlon was born on 17 October 1945 in Dooncaha, Tarbert, Co. Kerry. He was educated at Tarmons NS and St Brendan’s Killarney and came to St Columban’s, Navan, in 1963, the same year that he led the Kerry Minor Team to victory in the All Ireland Football Final. He was ordained priest in Tarbert on 21 December 1969. In 1970 he was appointed to the Philippines and for the next ten years he served in the parishes of Jimenez, Sapang-Dalaga, and Plaridel, all in the Province of Misamis Occidental, on the island of Mindanao.

The 1970’s were years of Martial Law, years of Muslim revolt,  years of civil strife marked by brutal clashes between the military and various groups of armed revolutionaries. In this setting Tommy’s passion for justice, and his commitment to the small farmers who were being squeezed on every side, became very evident.

In 1980, he spent a sabbatical year of studies in England. This year included three months of Islamic Studies as he had been asked to join the recently-founded Columban mission to Pakistan. The Christian communities in Pakistan are a tiny, oppressed minority. Tommy continued his work for justice and peace in this new setting. Due in large part to his boundless energy and organizational skills, the Major Religious Superiors in Pakistan established an effective Commission for Justice and Peace, and he served as Chairman of this Commission for a number of years. There were some small victories along the way, as when the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision to reinstate the people of Kut Luthi, part of his own parish,  who had been evicted from their land.

From 2002 to 2005 he worked in Ireland on promotion before returning to Pakistan. A man of warmth and humour, Tommy was totally dedicated; he lived with great simplicity but was very generous; he demanded much of himself. He had a vast network of friends and was very much loved and admired. He suffered a stroke in late May and died on 6 June, the feast of Corpus Christi. He is buried in Lahore, next to Pat McCaffrey, a fellow-Columban who died on 18 May.

May he rest in peace.