Speaking Notes of Fr Sean at the launch of his book, ‘Whisperings of my Soul’ in Portarlington GAA Centre, Friday 7th December 2018.
“For me this has been a great evening, I would like to thank all those who contributed to making it so. I have a long list of and acknowledgements in the book for those who have supported and encouraged me in my life’s journey, especially in my journey to priesthood and in particular in those who supported me in getting the lovely heavenly messages in the book published.
This evening I hope all those who deserve a mention in that longer context will understand it if I leave that to the acknowledgements in the book.
I agreed a deal with Veritas just this week for nation-wide distribution of the book, which means it will be in book stores in all the major towns in the country starting from next week. That was my dearest hope for these messages. It is probably just short of miraculous for a first time author with a self-published book and no particular following, to get nation-wide distribution from the premier distributor in the genera. So when you reach the end of the book add that one to all of the other little heavenly blessings.
I feel what I want to say about the book in terms of the background to it, has been covered very well in the short video you seen earlier. For that I am eternally gratefully to Fr Bill Kemmy of iCatholic for producing and recording it.
I would like thank Fr Paddy Byrne and Fr Ruairi O’Domnhaill for being so supportive and encouraging when I asked them to help me discern if I should publish the account of these heavenly blessings at this time.
Very special thanks to Orla Kelly for guiding me professionally and safely through the process and mechanics of publishing.
I will be eternally grateful to Kathryn Rogers my editor and co-author for crafting my rambling dissertations into such a beautiful account of those heavenly blessings. In particular for the sensitive way she extracted all the personal details of my life with Liz, and Seana and Kieran and wove them into such a beautiful tapestry.
A special mention for Eileen Ryan from the parish office, for the design of the front cover.
I would like to thank Kara Burbage and the Burbage dance school for the fantastic opening to this evening. I thought they were great at the social evening after my mass of thanksgiving four years ago, but it’s fair to say that they surpassed it this evening
A Hugh thanks and compliments to Patricia, Edward and the choir for your beautiful selections and rendition of hymns and carols.
To Dr Larry Fullam, choir master at my ordination and master of ceremonies tonight and he was  master of the evening thank you Larry.
For all the volunteers working away in the background who served refreshments the wine, soft drinks and tea/coffee
I would like to especially thank Bishops Jim Moriarity and Bishop Denis for your support and encouragement. It’s your special kind of leadership that creates and fosters an environment where people of the diocese, priests and lay people alike can and do come forward and share, as I have been encouraged and supported in doing. Bishop Denis you gave me full access to the diocesan communication’s systems down to parish level to help get this project off the ground.
I would like to thank my own family for always being there supporting and encouraging me. Especially PJ and Joyce who I always turn to when the corner gets tight:
Last but not least I would like to pay tribute to the wonderful Julia Levy. Fr Dooley gave Julia the task of organising the social evening here in Mc Cann Park after my mass of thanks giving. It was such a lovely evening people still talk about it over four years on. So when Kathryn advised me I needed to do a book launch. I immediately thought it should be in Mc Cann Park and Julia should organise it. When I asked Julia she immediately said yes and was already thinking of options and possibilities before I even understood she had agreed to do it.
I would like to than all of you for coming along this evening to support the launch of Whisperings of My Soul”.
ENDS
Bishop Denis will launch the book ‘Whisperings of my Soul’ written by Fr Sean Hyland. The launch takes place tonight, Friday 7th December, at 7.30pm in Portarlington GAA Centre.
The book shares how Fr Sean found consolation after the deaths of his two young children, Seana and Kieran, and his wife Liz.
Fr Sean was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin in 2014. Having spent some time as curate in Askea Parish, Carlow Fr Sean is currently serving as curate for the parishes of Rhode and Clonbullogue in Offaly and resides in his hometown of Portarlington in Laois.
In Fr Sean’s own words “If I had to up sum what ‘Whisperings of my Soul’ is all about, I think the first sentence probably says it best; “When I reached the lowest ebb of my life, I called out to God and discovered that He was there for me””.
‘Whisperings of my Soul’ will be available to purchase for €15 through the following parishes from Monday onwards.
Portarlington: 057-8643004
Portlaoise: 057-8621142
Carlow Cathedral: 059-9164086
Askea: 059-9142565
Newbridge: 045-431394
Naas: 045-879730
Some smaller parishes have also agreed to stock the books, please check locally.
Veritas will be distributing the book nationwide to all major towns beginning next week and for online shoppers it will be available on Amazon from tomorrow (Saturday).