'Judas Iscariots' who left the Columban priesthood

A number of former Meath priests participate in ‘The Judas Iscariot Lunch’, which will be broadcast on RTE 1 on Monday next, 18th July at 9.35pm. The documentary, directed by Teresa O’Grady-Peyton and produced by TJ O’Grady-Peyton tells the story of Columban missionary priests – over 200 in all – who took the brave, honourable and risky decision to leave the active ministry and set out on a totally different and difficult life journey.
In association with RTE, The Judas Iscariot Lunch’ is a story about faith, religion, love, and life after the priesthood. Thirteen Irish ex-priests speak candidly about how they came to be missionaries in East Asia, the Pacific and South America in the 1960s and ‘70s. Immersed in their new situations, these young idealists resonated with and developed much broader ideas about God, their own humanity and needs, and about faiths, cultures and economies.
The documentary tells the story of the missionary priests “who took the brave, honourable and risky decision to leave the active ministry and set out on totally different and difficult life journey”. They were branded ‘Judas Iscariots’ by Pope Paul VI. This documentary, often funny, sometimes sad, is beautiful, raw and thought-provoking.
It premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival and screened at the recent Galway Film Fleadh.
Meath men taking part are Frank Keogh of Ballinlough, Donal MacDonald Wilkinstown, and Brian Smyth of Skryne, together with Declan Coyle Dungimmon, Co Cavan, Michael Gavin, Castlebar, Co Mayo, Jack Houlahan, Armagh, James Kennedy, Pallisnagrane, Co Limerick, Tadgh Kennelly, Dublin, Tony O’Dwyer, Duniry, Co Galway, Joe O’Grady, Cloonacool, Co Sligo, Barry O’Hagan, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, Val Rogers, Ballymote, Co Sligo, and Luke Waldron Knock, Co Mayo.
Gemma Creagh of Film Ireland was at the scerening at this year’s Audi Dublin International Film Festival. She wrote: “As the house lights went down, us audience members, ranging from 18 – 80, were greeted with an opening sequence of older gentleman, toasting wine, and chatting abstractly. This, in the same organic, gentle flow that would progress the whole piece, gave way to the exposition of who those men were growing up – and how they found they found themselves in their teens and studying at the Missionary Society of St Columban.
From the intimacy of their homes, 13 Irish former priests – all quirky, chatty and charismatic characters from very different backgrounds – spoke frankly about how they came to be missionaries in East Asia, the Pacific and South America in the 1960s and ’70s and their struggles in adapting. This led on to the difficulties in their lives following their return. These men were among 200 priests who made the difficult decision to leave active ministry, many of whom ended up struggling to find their place in society again.
What is most striking about this documentary, and a testament to director Teresa O’Grady-Peyton, is the level of intimacy she reaches with these subjects. These are Irish men in their 60s, 70s and 80s who are chatting openly and humorously about sex – eliciting many a chuckle from this audience, mind you – as well as being honest about loneliness and loss.
Although not avoiding them for a second, O’Grady-Peyton, deals with issues of celibacy and faith within Catholicism, and does so with a surprising level of gentleness and understanding that doesn’t hijack the focus from these men and their stories. This may be in part with the fact Joe O’Grady, Teresa’s husband, was the inspiration for the documentary, after he left the church himself at aged 35.