Dancing to my Death

In the summer of 2018 Fr Daniel O'Leary received the news that we all dread ”“ a cancer diagnosis.

As a priest, teacher, bestselling author and retreat facilitator, it was a natural instinct for Daniel to journal his thoughts and feelings during his cancer journey. Completed just before his death in January 2019, this book is an incredibly raw and courageous account. It pulls no punches in terms of Fr Daniel's struggles to cope with his diagnosis, the challenges of cancer treatment, and the emotional rollercoaster of facing his own death.

Dancing to My Death reveals a soul in chaos. It has the extremes of a torn kite in a storm ”“ it sweeps and swoops between hope and despair, throws cartwheels and steadies out, crashes with fear and continues with raw and real courage.

During his final illness Fr Daniel found a great clarity about what is important in life. There is a tough honesty here: an honesty that can only emerge when the circus of religious activities leaves town, and when people are encouraged to really explore what their Christianity means to them.