There was sadness in Castletown recently following the passing of Brother Augustine (Gus) Freeley.
Originally from Mayo, Brother Gus came to Castletown at the age of 16.
At his funeral mass in Castletown on June 11, Brother Martin Curran paid tribute to Gus.
A wonderful musician, kind-hearted teacher and talented baker, Brother Gus touched the lives of many people across the country.
With permission, we produce Brother Martin’s eulogy below:
This afternoon we are gathered here to celebrate the life of Br Augustine (Gus) as most of us tended to call him. A line from today’s Gospel is very apt as we remember Gus:
“I am the way, the truth and the life. ”The Way – Jesus points us to the path to follow; “The Truth – our belief in Jesus, and “The Life – we are to reach out to others as Jesus did.”
Each one of us present here is invited to become a spiritual person in the vocation we have been called to follow whether that be as a parent, nurse, teacher, Brother, farmer or priest.
Austin Freeley was born in Gurteen, Mayo to Delia and James Freeley in 1933. He was 16 when he came here to Castletown after attending the local technical school in Ballyhaunis.
Castletown played an important role in his religious formation. Here in this chapel Austin received the Religious habit for the first time and was given the name Augustine. He pronounced his First Vows in 1951 and his Perpetual Vows in 1958.
After completing the Novitiate religious studies programme he journeyed to Waterford to prepare for his Leaving Certificate. Study came easy to Gus so he then completed his training for national teaching in De La Salle Training College.
He had the privilege of teaching in Cavan, Manorhamilton, Leitrim and Churchtown and Ballyfermot in Dublin. Gus gave of his best in each centre to provide a human and Christian Education for his pupils which was the objective of our founder St. John Baptist de La Salle.
He always saw the good in each pupil and was interested in their well-being. He was very willing to put his musical talent at the service of the school and was involved in school choirs in Cavan and Manorhamilton and was musical director of concerts in Churchtown school.
He was well respected in all schools and Br. Malachy who taught with him in Churchtown, said: “He was regarded as a saint by both teachers and those who came in contact with him.
“Some of the teachers wished to be on yard duty with him because he was saintly.”
And Br. Raymond McKeever said: “He could be termed a ‘Holy Brother’ and he genuinely was that.”
Gus was a gentle and unassuming Brother, a person who never pushed himself into the limelight but he engaged in all community undertakings. He was always willing to help out in any way possible.
He was a wonderful baker, a talent which was much appreciated in Mount La Salle, Ballyfermot, where he produced lovely brown bread and madeira cakes.
He enjoyed helping Brothers in the garden, maintaining the grounds around the house or school or wherever the need was.
Br. Pat McGowan who was gardener in the Mount and lived with him for 10 years, said: “Gus was always there to hold the rope for me when I was cutting down trees, saving my life on a number of occasions.”
Faith was the guiding force of John Baptist de La Salle and he wished that all Brothers would be imbued with this spirit throughout their lives and be the inspiration in carrying out their duties.
By his faithful attention to community prayer, daily mass and keeping up to date on religious matters through reading and retreats Gus was totally committed to his gospel journey undertaken at the age of 16.
Br. Albert O’Driscoll who emailed from South Africa said: “I loved his company and he was very passionate when it came to conversation and discussion on religious matters.”
Br. Raymond goes even stronger when he says: “he was quite adamant on what he believed and was not for turning back.”
I remember while returning from Dublin and a programme on the Bible came on the radio about Old Testament wars.
I suggested to Gus that we could not really believe all this because of the violence and slaughter. Gus would have none of that and proceeded to tell me about to value of the Old Testament.
Two weeks later we were on a return visit to the hospital in Dublin and we were only beyond Mountrath when he comes up with “Martin, going back to what we were discussing the last visit I would like to talk about it to you again.”
I said we will talk about it on the way back but that did not happen as he slept most of the way home.
He was a person who had many interests including music, gardening, the Irish language, Spanish which he spent many hours studying and he enjoyed chatting with people.
Br. George Whyte who went through his study years with Gus says: “We had a lot in common to share – grá for the Irish Language and all things Irish in particular. He had a keen interest in Irish songs and poetry.
“In later years it was his love of Irish song and dance that helped to keep us together. Both of us joined the ‘Brothers Entertainment Group’ in Dublin and performed on stage in a few places.”
He had a great interest in his family and loved visiting Mayo – meeting neighbours, baking bread and walking.
He loved telling stories to his nephews and nieces and later to grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
His niece Breda says: “In later years the grand nieces and nephews encouraged him to tell them jokes.
“They enjoyed him laughing just before he got to the punch line and quite often he was laughing so heartily that he couldn’t get the punch line out.
“This together with the bag of sweets he brought and his mannerism of rubbing his hands together gave hours of enjoyment to his captive audience.”
We have some hymns to Our Lady in the Mass due to the strong devotion he had to her.
He visited Lourdes on a number of occasions and Breda says the highlight of his summer visits to Mayo was the Knock Novena. On numerous occasions he walked from Gurteen to Knock on the 15th of August.
The rosary was a constant prayer that he recited. Up to the last few days he enjoyed having “The Bells of the Angelus” and “Hail Queen of Heaven” sung to him and he would try and join in.
I would like to offer the sympathy of the De La Salle Brothers and of the staff in Miguel House to his sister Mary in Birmingham, brothers Peter and Michael in Manchester, Tom in Canada and to his nephews and nieces and extended family. You are be in our prayers at this sad time for you.
I thank Teresa and all staff in Miguel house, Dr. Paddy O Dwyer, and Fr. Joe here for the care they gave to Gus at all times and especially during the last month. Gus did not want for anything and nothing was too much for them to do for him.
His death came suddenly at the end but for me Gus went to his heavenly home in a very peaceful and quite manner just as he lived his life – no fuss, no noise.
I finish with the few lines that Br. Eugene Quinn sent me when he heard about his death,
“A man with a hearty laugh and a ready smile, A rare example of the true Christian. He is shining brightly above today.” Gus, go dtuga Dia suaimhneas síoraí do d’anam uasal.
Brother Martin Curran
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