‘Convivial and curious’ – Bishop Noel Treanor RIP

The Belfast Jesuit community was ‘shocked’ to hear the news of the sudden death of Archbishop Noel Treanor, according to Gerry Clarke SJ, community member and director of the Belfast Jesuit Centre for Spirituality. “Only a few months before, in April, Archbishop Treanor had concelebrated at the installation of his successor Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ,” says Gerry Clarke SJ, adding, “And as usual, he circulated happily afterwards among his former colleagues on the steps of St Peter’s Cathedral, Falls Road, Belfast.”

Bishop Noel strongly supported the setting up of the Jesuit Centre at Donegall Street, Belfast. With former Provincial Fr. Leonard Moloney SJ he opened the Centre, amidst showers of rain, in October 2022. (See photo). Gerry Clarke notes that when he and Bishop Treanor met for what was to be the last time on the steps of St Peter’s, Belfast, The Bishop asked him how the Jesuit Centre was developing. “I was confident enough to say ‘well, thank you, Bishop Noel. I think we’re coming into our stride’. He was happy with that.”

Archbishop Treanor was Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union when he died on Sunday 11 August 2024. His funeral was held on Tuesday, 20 August, in St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast, with burial taking place in the cathedral’s Resurrection Chapel.

Bishop Alan McGuckian, SJ, Bishop of Down and Connor, celebrated the Requiem Mass, with the current Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Eamon Martin; and Diarmuid Martin, the Archbishop emeritus of Dublin. Bishop Alan worked with Archbishop Treanor in Down and Connor on the ‘Living Church’ project and joined him later in the Irish Bishops’ Conference, where they worked on justice and peace issues.

In his homily, Bishop Alan said that Archbishop Noel Treanor’s true dream was that “of all the baptized, clergy, laity and religious working together for the mission of the Church and for the common good… He admired equally the priest who ministered with joy, the business person who worked and provided jobs that sustained many people in work, the religious who were to be found on the front lines of poverty and injustice, the teachers who strove to make a better society through Catholic education and to bring Christ to young people.”

Referencing the Archbishop’s long-standing work in Europe, Bishop Alan said that his deep commitment to the European project was “born out of a desire to forge a shared, life-giving culture in a situation of terrible division manifested at its worst in the horrible excesses of the Second World War.” Bishop Alan went on to say that,”The great leaders of the recently warring nations had striven to create something in common that was authentically secular and inclusive. They were convinced, as was Noel, that the most reliable source for the values that could carry such a bold project was the Gospel of Jesus.”

Gerry Clarke SJ and other members of the Belfast community attended Archbishop Noel’s funeral Mass. “I have never been at a Bishop’s funeral before,” Gerry said, “But I was struck by the look of shock and loss on the faces of all present. But there was also a sense of gratitude and reverence for Bishop Noel’s gifts and his service, the hallmark of a life well lived.”

Reflecting on the character of Archbishop Treanor Gerry Clarke concludes, “Conviviality and curiosity are two words I would associate with him. He was always encouraging and always searching. He had an enquiring mind and a very broad understanding of the faith and the church. He encouraged us to engage with the issues of the time and the concerns of the faithful in the diocese. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”