Diamond Jubilee of Brother Ennis
On Saturday last, 4th October Omagh Christian Brothers marked a truly historic occasion, the Diamond Jubilee of Brother Larry Ennis. He was joined in his celebration by three other Christian Brothers, Br. John Devanney from Galway, Bro. Kieran Loughran from Limerick and Bro Pat Holihan from Roscommon, who were also marking sixty years in the Christian Brothers. The celebration was hosted by Mr Paul Brannigan, the school Principal. Other Christian Brothers from throughout Ireland, friends of Bro Ennis, former colleagues from other schools and members of the current staff of Omagh CBS also attended.
The event began with Mass celebrated by Monsignor Donnelly PP who remarked during his homily that the Responsorial Psalm ‘Behold, Lord, I have come to do your will’, was an extremely apt choice in light of the commitment of the Christian Brothers over the decades and especially of Bro Ennis and his fellow jubilarians on this occasion. After Mass those present were invited to dinner which was followed by speeches from Bro John Ledwidge, Mr Frank Corvan, Vice Principal in St Patrick’s Grammar School Armagh and Bro Kevin Mullan, leader of the Christian Brothers European Province. They all acknowledged the tremendous achievement of Bro Ennis in celebrating sixty years as a Christian Brother. Bro Kevin Mullan spoke of the life of Brother Ennis epitomising the true pillars of Brotherhood, building strong links in the community, commitment, mission and service.
As he had done while in Belfast, Dublin and Armagh, Bro Ennis is heavily involved in football in gaelic football in Omagh CBS and continues to teach maths to anyone who needs him. He still tutors students in further and additional maths at A Level and takes great pleasure in assisting young men to gain entry to the highest regarded universities in these islands. Only last year two of his students at the Christian Brothers could claim 5 A Grades at A Level with the benefit of studying further maths with Bro. Ennis.
After 60 years in the Christian Brothers Bro Ennis has witnessed many changes in schools and society generally. He says that what has not changed is the pleasure that he acquires from teaching. Now the young are self assured and their aspirations extend higher, confident in the knowledge that they are equipped with the necessary skills and attributes to compete effectively in the modern world. He disagrees that the youth of today are poorly behaved and more troublesome that their ancestors of previous generations. Bro Ennis argues that with numerous temptations in the modern world it is a clear indication of their strong moral character that so many of them become such well rounded young men at such a young age. He doubts that if such temptations had been put in front of his generation they would have turned out as good. He says that he finds it such a pleasure to work with the pupils in school and that they continue to challenge and energise him and that they ‘keep him young’.
