'Live Life' Youth Retreat in memory of Donal Walsh

‘Live Life’ Youth Retreat in memory of Donal Walsh

Knock Shrine, 7 May, 2026

Homily Notes of Bishop Brendan Leahy

Dear Friends,

I’m not going to say too much but what I want to say is important.

I’ve tried to imagine what Donal Walsh might want to say to you if he were in my place today. I think he would say: “look, you only have one life, it is worth living well. Aim high, choose good friends and become the wonderful person God and those who love you want you to be”.

We know that when Donal only had a few weeks to live, he talked about how he still had a precious life to live and that he wanted to help everyone to appreciate the little things in their lives – a good deed someone does for you, help you get from a friend, or maybe simply noticing someone showing kindness to an elderly person or you might look around and notice the nice countryside around where you live, or appreciate more the sport or music you are involved in. I like in the evening before going to bed, and maybe you could do this, to spend time thinking back over the day and remember the little things you noticed during the day.

In noticing all these good things, Donal would probably remind you also of the little ways you can help people around you every day. None of us like exams. At the end of our life, however, there will be an exam to get into heaven. But the good news is that Jesus has helped us. He has given us the exam questions in advance and the exam questions are about noticing people and their needs and helping them. The questions on the exam will be those we heard in the Gospel today:

When you met people who were hungry (for food but also maybe for hungry for friendship or care), did you feed them? When you met people who were thirsty (not just for drink but for your listening ear or advice), did you give them something to drink? When you met foreigners or people from other places or simply people different to you did you welcome them? When people were sick or suffering, did you visit and offer them help and support? When people were feeling lonely, feeling as if they were in prison because of the troubles they were going through, did you give them a helping hand and draw close to them offering them your friendship?

Yes, you see, as Donal Walsh reminds us, we only have one life but each day we get loads of opportunities to notice little things, keeping an eye out for others, helping them in little ways. Each day you can make a difference to those around you. And do you know what? One day, if you live your whole life like this, showing love to others, Jesus will say to you: “well done, all those little good deeds you did for others, you did them for me because I, Jesus, am hidden in each person you meet”.

The last thing I want to say is this. Pope Francis became Pope just a short time before Donal Walsh died. I think Donal would like us to remember something Pope Francis often said. And it is this: “Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you”.

That is what Donal Walsh experienced. It’s what he wants you to know too: “Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you”.