By 
THE past few months have been among the most challenging of Fr Eugene Hasson’s 40 years in the priesthood.
From saying Mass behind closed doors to administering the last rites to the dying through the window of their home, everything has changed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It was no wonder, then, that Fr Hasson, the parish priest of Drumragh, became “deeply emotional” when over 100 parishioners gathered on Sunday morning outside the Parochial House in Omagh to mark this important milestone in his priestly ministry.
Since his ordination in June 1980, Fr Hasson has spent the majority of his priesthood in Tyrone parishes.
He was first based in Drumragh for 11 years and later became parish priest of Greencastle prior to moving back to Omagh.
“For me the 40th anniversary is simply another date on the calendar and I wouldn’t be the type of person who is seeking out a celebration,” he said.
“But I got a real shock on Sunday morning after 10am Mass when I went down the steps at the back of the Sacred Heart Church. I just could not believe the number of people who had gathered – socially distanced of course.
“I’m not the extrovert type, so I had to take a deep breath and walk through the corridor of people. It was a really humbling experience because there was a special link with each and every person who had turned out.
“It was a deeply emotional moment, not least because a few days earlier one of my classmates had died suddenly.”
Of course, everything has changed so dramatically since March and Fr Hasson readily admits that the restrictions on worship imposed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic have resulted in some “tough moments.”
“Of all the things which have happened to me in those 40 years, the past few months have definitely been particularly challenging. That’s simply because of the total uncertainty of not knowing really where we are going or what we are dealing with,” he said.
“We are really trying to reach out in the best way possible to our community. Administering the sacraments has been very distressing.
“When people have been dying, I have prayed with them from looking at a distance through a window, but unable to anoint them because of safety requirements.
“It’s also been extremely disappointing not being able to give Holy Communion or to celebrate Confirmation with the P7 pupils.
“I’m very disappointed that this hasn’t happened yet because it was to be my first time conducting a Confirmation ceremony and it was something I was really looking forward to.
“But at the same time it’s extremely important to hope that we can soon start to live as we did before this pandemic.
“The restrictions have been there to keep us safe and to be aware of the need to do everything possible to combat the spread of the disease.”
A native of Dungiven in Co Derry, Fr Hasson has a long association with Tyrone and feels “a special affinity” with local parishes and their communities.
“Drumragh was my first appointment and I came here in September 1980 before spending 11 years as a curate. I was appointed chaplain to the Tyrone County Hospital, so the whole of Tyrone is very precious for me,” he said.
“The eight years that I was in Greencastle now feel like eight minutes. But I have a very strong affinity with these parishes, not least because my mother was a native of Plumbridge and as a child I spent many holidays there.
“No matter where I’ve been, I’ve always been focused on developing a faith community. Working closely with the primary schools and as chaplain to the secondary schools had an immense impact on me, engaging with teachers, parents and students.
“It is wonderful now to see people who were children back then, and they still remember me coming into their classroom all those years ago.
“Everything touches you when meeting people in person and hopefully we’ll soon be able to get back to that.
“We must never give up hope.”
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