World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly falls on 26th July, the Feast of SS Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. Fr Tim Mulroy recalls a Columban Missionary who began to learn a musical instrument at the tender age of 90!
“Any plans for the celebration of your 90th birthday?” I asked Fr John Marley, who was a member of the Columban retirement community in Bristol, Rhode Island. I was expecting him to tell me about plans for a party or maybe a few parties, but instead he replied with his trademark enthusiasm, “I’m going to learn to play the flute. It’s something I have thought about for several years and now seems to be the right moment to move from thought to action.”
Even though Fr John had the reputation of being a talented and active priest, who had ministered in the Philippines, Ireland, Chile and the USA for more than sixty years, this plan for his 90th birthday caught me by surprise. “Will your music tutor come here or will you go out to attend lessons?”, I inquired. He looked at me quizzically and then responded, “There’s no need for anyone to come or go. All the lessons are available on the internet.”
A few days later as I was passing by the retirement community’s computer room, I spotted Fr John sitting in front of a large screen, practicing how to play his flute. He was following an introductory online lesson about how to hold his lips and tongue in order to achieve the right sound. Even though I stood observing him from behind for a few moments, he remained so focussed on the lesson that he never noticed me.
During the months that followed, from time to time as I walked along the corridor of the retirement home, I heard Fr John practising in his bedroom and could sense how dedicated he was to his new hobby. However, a year later, I moved from the USA to Hong Kong and so was no longer able ‘to monitor his progress.’
Fr John Marley
What a surprise it was then, five years later, to receive from Fr John a recording of himself playing a tune on the flute! By then, he had turned 95 years old and had used his own smartphone to make the recording. In other words, he had set up his smartphone in such a way as to record himself playing a tune on the flute, and then attached the recording to an email. The accompanying email message was concise: “Hi Tim: This is not my best; just a sample that I am still on track. JM.”
Fr John continued to stay on track with his flute playing throughout the following two years. Then, having reached his best here on earth, he became eligible for admittance to the woodwind section of the heavenly orchestra!
Fr Tim Mulroy was ordained in 1995. A former primary school teacher from Co Mayo, he was Regional Director in the US between 2012-2018 and Superior General between 2018-2024. He is now based in Britain.
First published in the July/August 2026 issue of the Far East magazine. Please subscribe here and support Columban Missionaries through your subscription. https://columbans.ie/far-east-magazine/
