by Anabelle B. Gubuan

I was a fresh graduate from college and eager to land a job. I applied for a part-time job in Misyon magazine. I came to Father Niall’s office for an interview. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t bite you,’ was his greeting to me, aware of the anxiety written on my face. He asked me how many books I’d read in the past five months. When I said, ‘Six,’ he smiled from ear to ear. I was hired. Since then I got addicted to reading even more.

Father Niall was the only person who encouraged me so endlessly that I didn’t have any choice but to believe him. He kept telling me that I could go further than what I  thought I could only reach. When he told me he wanted me to work full-time for the magazine, I knew it was going to be a great privilege working with a person who was always hungry for knowledge and wisdom — and he was always restless until he shared this with everyone.

Father Niall touched the lives of many people

He used to call himself a ‘hankering editor’ and, well, he made a ‘hankering’ staff out of us because of that. He trained us ruthlessly, giving us tasks which seemed impossible for us to accomplish, he sent us to all sorts of seminars and workshops. We even weren’t spared from going with him to operas and recitals as well. He believed that in order for us to be fully aware of the things around us, we must go out and experience them. Even when he was already in Ireland for medical treatment, he would update us on the latest movie and insisted that we watch it. ‘You will discover a lot in this movie,’ he’d say and then he would go on in describing the place, the history, the characters.

Fellow priest give their final blessing to Father Niall at his funeral Mass 
in Kabankalan where he served most of his life

It was through Father Niall that I became so curious about the world and at the same time appreciate every little detail of life around me. I saw how he used to get amazed by a tiny flower sprouting out of the weeds. I always saw myself as that flower, sprouting out from my weeds of insecurities, with Father Niall pulling out each weed that threatened to come out. Now I believe that Father Niall is happily walking in his garden blooming with beautiful flowers.