A FORMER Catholic chaplain at Antrim Area Hospital has been described as a "gentle and prayerful" man following his death on Easter Sunday.
Fr Felix McGuckin, who was 93, died after a short illness.
His burial took place in his native Swatragh in Co Derry yesterday.
Former neighbours and friends were given the chance to line the route of his cortege as it made its way from McCusker Bros Funeral Home in Magherafelt to the Church of St John the Baptist, Granaghan.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic his wake and funeral were private, with only limited numbers allowed to attend the cemetery.
Fr McGuckin was well known across counties Antrim and Derry for his work as a chaplain at Antrim Area hospital.
A former priest in Antrim, he retired to the parish as a curate in 2003 and took on the hospital role, which he held until last year.
Antrim parish priest Fr Sean Emerson paid a warn tribute last night.
“He was really well known. He had that real presence,” he said.
“He walked with people in their greatest need.
“He had a gentleness and prayerfulness about him.”
The former priest was a familiar figure around the hospital.
“Everybody knew Fr McGuckin. He helped people in their journey of sickness and assured them God was with them in a quiet humble way.”
He said Fr McGuckin was “very popular” in the parish and “would not want a great tribute paid to him, it would be the last thing he would want.
“He didn't believe in fuss,” he said.
Hundreds of tributes have poured into the Antrim parish Facebook page.
Among them one from his niece Rosaleen McGuckin who described him as “an inspirational uncle”.
Born in 1927, Fr McGuckin entered St Malachy’s Seminary in Belfast in 1950 after completing his philosophical studies at Queen’s University Belfast.
He continued his priestly training and pursued theological studies in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
Ordained in 1957 , his first appointment was as assistant priest in St Mary’s Parish, Portglenone, from 1957-1965.
He was appointed as curate in Antrim parish in 1965 where he remained until 1983.
That year he was appointed as Catholic Chaplain at Crumlin Road Prison, where he served from 1983-1986.
In November 1986, Fr McGuckin became parish priest of Drumbo and Carryduff and continued there until 2003.
On his his retirement in August 2003 he returned as a curate to Antrim and as a chaplain at Antrim Area Hospital.
Bishop Noel Treanor will officiate at a funeral Mass for Fr McGuckin from St Comgall's Church in Antrim at 11am today, which will be streamed on Facebook.
A full funeral Mass will also be held when the coronavirus pandemic is over.
