He had a front-row seat to the theatre of war, was an eye-witness to the consequences of hate, and now, after 25 years of carnage and chaos, he has come to White Rock to spread a message of faith, hope and love.

Rev. Patrick John (PJ) O鈥橫aoil Mheana, ordained as Father Luke, is currently sitting in what he described as a 14-day 鈥渕onastic isolation鈥� at the White Rock鈥檚 Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity rectory.

O鈥橫aoil Mheana, who landed in Canada from Scotland on Monday, was named the new rector, or priest in charge, of the church.

O鈥橫aoil Mheana, born in Ireland, has a long history of helping people in the most dire of circumstances. He worked in a hospice in London U.K., during what turned out to be the deadliest years of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Following that, he enlisted in the Royal Navy and Royal Army, where he served 25 years collectively.

In the armed forces, O鈥橫aoil Mheana was nurse-in-charge of preoperative care. It was his job, on deployments, to care for the wounded. His career took him to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Falkland Islands.

A video of O鈥橫aoil Mheana, speaking at St. Mary鈥檚 Episcopal Cathedral in Glasgow, gives a glimpse of what he experienced during his 25 years of service.

鈥淭he language of hate is not something we find comfortable,鈥� O鈥橫aoil Mheana said, speaking to the parishioners.

鈥淪peaking as one who over 25 years dealt with the consequences of hate, I am certainly not comfortable with it. Hate has led to being stood knee deep in bodies in a mass grave in Bosnia. Hate leads to being blown across the road by a secondary bomb while treating causalities. Hate leads to being stood at an operating table months after months with a sea of trauma in front of you, and that is wrong. This is not the language which I, myself, am able to accept.鈥�

In an interview with Peace Arch News this week, O鈥橫aoil Mheana agreed that he has seen worst humanity has to offer.

And as traumatic as the experiences may have been, O鈥橫aoil Mheana said there was one constant throughout the years 鈥� a presence of God.

鈥淚 spent 25 years caring for people in the worst of situations. You have to see the hand of God in it,鈥� O鈥橫aoil Mheana said. 鈥淲here God is, is in the hand of the surgeon, in the hand of the nurse, in the hand of the X-ray tech, who are working to save that young man or woman鈥檚 life. That鈥檚 where the act of God is, the holding and love.

鈥淚 could not have done what I did for 25 years had I not had the foundation of faith beforehand鈥� But subsequent to that, I have to say that I couldn鈥檛 be the priest I am today, and would wish to be in the future, had I not had 25 years of doing what I did.鈥�

O鈥橫aoil Mheana offered a story of a miracle of God while he was deployed in Afghanistan. He had trouble recalling if it happened on his second, or third deployment to the war-torn country.

He said his base camp鈥檚 commanding officer had an knack for photography, and sometimes documented the life on the base. O鈥橫aoil Mheana recalls an evening when surgeons were operating throughout out the night, and the commanding officer took photographs of the work.

Later, the commander showed O鈥橫aoil Mheana a stunning image from the evening.

鈥淚t was sublime,鈥� O鈥橫aoil Mheana said, recalling the photograph. 鈥淗e captured a picture of two of the surgeons working.鈥�

What was striking about the image, O鈥橫aoil Mheana said, was that both surgeons had a look on their face. A look that was all to familiar to O鈥橫aoil Mheana.

鈥淗e captured the moment when they were concentrating. They were working, yes, but the concentration on their faces was a concentration of prayer. And it was just鈥� it blew me away,鈥� O鈥橫aoil Mheana said. 鈥淚t was just the most amazing鈥� In dealing with the chaos and carnage of war 鈥� and we had to deal with the chaos and carnage of war 鈥� they were working, but the intensity on their faces, they were praying.鈥�

While surrounded by chaos, O鈥橫aoil Mheana said there have only been a few times that he was struck by fear.

鈥淭he four times in my life when I have been truly frightened is when I couldn鈥檛 find the presence of God. And that鈥檚 a scary place,鈥� he said.

Following his military service, O鈥橫aoil Mheana began exploring a return to religious life. When he was younger, he worked as a missionary in Africa during famine.

He was accepted for training in the Church of England before going to the College of Resurrection in Mirifield, West Yorkshire. He was ordained in 2012 and took the name Father Luke. He most recently served as rector of Monklands in Airdrie, Scotland, a position he held since 2017.

Holy Trinity began searching for a new rector in 2018 after the retirement of , who served as rector for 15 years.

Holy Trinity parish council member Simon Johnston said finding a new rector is similar to that of an art gallery hiring a new art director. Not only does the incoming director have a leadership responsibility, but they bring with them a new vision.

O鈥橫aoil Mheana said he takes a Benedictine approach, in that there are three tables: a table of work, a table of worship, and a table in which people are welcomed.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 about providing a space where people can feel included and welcomed and know that they will be accepted for who and what they are.鈥�

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Asked about the LGBT+ community, O鈥橫aoil Mheana was unapologetic in his support.

鈥淚 don鈥檛, as a priest, have the right to exclude anyone. This is an inclusive setting,鈥� he said. 鈥淛esus鈥� whole mission was to include, it was not to exclude.鈥�

The process of hiring a new priest in the Anglican world is complex and can be lengthy.

In Anglican tradition, the search is co-ordinated by the parish 鈥楥anonical Search Committee鈥� in association with an interim priest and diocesan guidance. The first step of the committee is to create a 鈥淧arish Profile,鈥� which is a document that outlines what the parish is looking for in a new rector. The document is posted by the executive archdeacon鈥檚 office and priests apply for the position.

The Holy Trinity position sat vacant for more than a year while the church waited for a suitable fit.

Father Luke was to be installed at the Church of the Holy Trinity on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. However, the ceremony was cancelled due to the current provincial health orders.

However, Nov. 30 is around the same time when O鈥橫aoil Mheana will complete his mandatory 14-day quarantine. It鈥檒l be his first opportunity to emerge from the rectory and explore his new community. He said he鈥檒l do so by bicycle.

It will surely be a quick lesson in not only the beauty of White Rock, but how hilly it can be.

aaron.hinks@peacearchnews.com
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