A tribute to Father Tommy Murphy

A tribute to Father Tommy Murphy

Farewell, Father Tommy!

You left us so abruptly; my heart hurts tremendously. I have only tasted what it feels like to be alone and desolate. As your student, friend, and comrade for many years, I, like many of your other dear friends, suddenly feel very sad and lost, and our hearts are torn.

Now I can calm down and remember your goodness, your earnest teaching, your humour, and your sincerity in dealing with people. For so many years, you devoted yourself wholeheartedly to being the cornerstone of the communities you dedicated your services to. 

In all aspects, you encouraged us to learn to practice the spirituality of meditation and to resist the fast and chaotic pace of modern life. You taught us how to achieve balance, so that we can face the turbulences of life without fear. In this way, we can uphold and grow in Christ’s selfless love by means of our words and actions consistently. Then we may nourish our hearts with the peace and joy bestowed by the Lord.

We will never forget you as our good spiritual adviser and that you urged us to follow the teachings of Benedictine Father John Main [1926-1982], the master of Christian meditation, to live at the present moment, to know when to”let go,” to forget oneself, and focus on the Lord.

On  5 May 2009, when we suddenly and sadly lost our founding spiritual adviser, Maryknoll Father Sean P. Burke, you volunteered to join Columban Father Sean Dwan’s “Legion of Spiritual Advisors” without much ado. 

Since then, you personally practiced meditation, laying a solid foundation for us to imitate. When Father Dwan was transferred to the US in 2012, you stayed on to be with us until your last breath. How blessed we are!

In our ordinary life, in terms of getting along with others, you taught us how to humble ourselves, how to “have the mind of Christ as our Mind,” to live out our faith and contemplate deeply “what is store within us” so that this kind of spirit permeates every aspect of our life through the ever present “Christ within us.”

You have set an example by strictly adhering to the meditation periods twice a day, encouraging us to persevere in silence and to purify our hearts every day. Only in this way could we truly understand humanity’s limitations, and then do the unique tasks that Christ has assigned to each of us in the short span of our lives.

You were knowledgeable and very learned. You loved reading and often liked to share with us the teachings and practices of the saints. Everyone agrees that you had no airs at all, were very easy-going, amiable, and really cared about our spiritual needs. So it is not surprising you were loved by everyone wherever you went.

I remember precisely what happened in the annual general meetings in November every year. Before your talk, you always reached out, and shook hands with each participant with a radiant smile. During the annual Lenten retreats, you often liked to add quotations or warnings in simplified Chinese, and the choice of words was simple and easy to understand, often reflecting the reality of the presence of the Lord in our daily life. This helped retreatants to effectively find everything easy to understand and appreciated the embedded meaning.

Father, you have always been quite unconventional. I remember that there was a dinner celebrating a great feast of St. Columban in 2015.

…you taught us how to humble ourselves, how to ‘have the mind of Christ as our Mind,” to live out our faith and contemplate deeply “what is store within us’ so that this kind of spirit permeates every aspect of our life through the ever present ‘Christ within us

You insisted that the guests’ seats needed not be prearranged, but instead invited everyone to sit casually as they liked. Consequently, the bishop, priests and the lay faithful had a good time together at the banquet. How exhilarating.

Father, we were all interested finding out how you developed your optimistic and lively personality. We noted you were engaged in a healthy hobby in your spare time. You often spent time with your close friends in the countryside such as Lamma Island, climbing mountains and going into the wilderness, to get close to nature. 

It may be due to the unique characteristics of the Irish nation expressing its generosity and love for the Lord. Many like to climb up the Croagh Patrick (St. Patrick’s Mountains). Fortunately we have been to Ireland and learned that according to the legend, St. Patrick once lived at the summit of this mountain range, stayed there and practiced penance for 40 days.

Exercises are thus combined beautifully as a spiritual practice. How wonderful!

Father Tommy, I was so privileged to discover the frank side of your personality.

I remember in 2017, I had major surgery and you visited me twice in the nursing home. Instead of letting me indulge in my illness and suffering, you frankly advised me not to feel sorry for myself, but to bravely accept the limitations of my physical state, so that I could have the courage to make efforts top strengthen my mindset, to work steadily, and make adequate preparation for the new team to follow after my retirement.

…we were all interested finding out how you developed your optimistic and lively personality. We noted you were engaged in a healthy hobby in your spare time. You often spent time with your close friends in the countryside such as Lamma Island, climbing mountains and going into the wilderness, to get close to nature

The last time I had a heart-to-heart talk with you, was in 2021, when Pamela and Jenny, both dedicated meditators, joined me in celebrating your belated birthday together. We chatted freely about the golden years we spent together at the meditation prayer community for over a decade. We recalled some remarkable fragments of the retreat in March 2009. 

Father Sean Burke had asked you to play the role of St. John of the Cross as if he were choosing a successor, and we never realised this scene would come true. You became our spiritual advisor in August of that year. 

Since then, amidst the ups and downs in the community, you witnessed the birth and the subsequent growth of the various groups, all of which have been lovingly nurtured by your practical approach to life, trusting God to the full.

Personally, you were always encouraging, caring and exhorted me, for which I am most grateful. I still remember that you happily shared with us the contemplative retreat with your Protestant friends in Dao Feng Shan Monastery in Shatin. 

You also shared with us the long-term “meditation retreats” you led in different seminaries in various provinces in China, where you taught seminarians, nuns and practitioners how to integrate the spirit of contemplation into their lives.

In 2019, I tried very hard to persuade you, who were always so humble, to accept the buffet intended for you from the community and to celebrate your big 70th birthday. 

Personally, you were always encouraging, caring and exhorted me, for which I am most grateful. I still remember that you happily shared with us the contemplative retreat with your Protestant friends in Dao Feng Shan Monastery in Shatin

On behalf of the community and the current coordinator, Vivian Lee, we wish to thank you for your amazing generosity in cultivating contemplative prayer over the years with your passion, hard work and wise teachings.

Father, you have spent a lot of happy times with us. In addition to the many dinners after the sermons and talks by Benedictine Father Laurence Freeman as well as regular community celebrations, what impressed us was the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of WCCM [HK] in the summer of 2016.

You led us on the pilgrimage to Singapore and Malaysia to celebrate the Holy Year, prayed with local meditation groups, and spent time communicating with each other, sharing our faith mutually.

What blessings!

When the community encountered difficulties, you were always there.

Once, we were faced with the invasion of “heretics, as our spiritual advisor, you remained calm and displayed your expert inter-personal kills, which was to “keep calm, listen thoroughly and patiently.” 

…you often reminded us we should surrender everything to God and follow his guidance

Then you helped us analyse what had happened, hoping to dig up the root causes of the incidents. At such times, you asked us to pray more fervently and rely more on Christ in order to resolve the crisis.

When the group encountered some personnel problems, I would naturally let you know at the first instance. Instead of showing acceptance to the existing issues, quite intentionally or unintentionally, you would help us shift our focus, encouraging us to review why we meditated at the very outset, and then trying to tackle the tasks before us first with clarity and fairness. 

Most importantly, you often reminded us we should surrender everything to God and follow his guidance.

I cannot help but to mention your extraordinary wisdom. Last

September, there was a big setback in my life, and I had to make a major decision. I honestly confessed to you what had happened. You have tried your best to persuade me to be cautious, and said it might not be the right time to make a decision when one was desolate, and that one should wait patiently for the right moment. 

I wanted to express how I felt, but realised then you were haunted by severe illness, and it would not be good to bother you more. 

However throughout the interaction, I was already very touched by your care and concern. Unexpectedly, only a few months later, we were separated from each other, you in heaven and me on earth.

Thank you so much, gracious and ever loving Lord, for giving us such a precious gift, that is granting us Father Tommy as a mentor and helpful friend with great depth and wisdom to guide us along from the beginning of the community until it gradually grew to the present stage. Over the years, you have quietly guarded us with love and kindness!

We have nothing with which to repay you, Father Tommy, but to keep up our valiant and positive spirit. Let us turn our sorrow at this heavy loss into strength. Let us be determined follow your wonderful example, to live every day with prayers, hope and love.

We entreat the Lord to comfort your brothers and sisters in your congregation, the Missionaries of St. Columban, your family in Ireland, and all your dear friends who grieve. In particular, we sincerely beseech the Lord to grant your soul eternal peace in heaven, that you may enjoy the most serene embrace of Christ, the Prince of Peace.

 Lina Lee
Coordinator, The World Community for Christian Meditation (Hong Kong) 2006  to 2019

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