Parish Priest

FR KEVIN CALLAGHAN, CSsR, RIP:

Fr Kevin will be well known to many of the older parishioners.

He was Parish Priest and Rector during the 1970s, when he had to cope with the fire in the church, and for a couple years Mass was celebrated in the chapel of Christ College (now Hope University). He served as Provincial of the Redemptorists throughout the 1980s and then graciously agreed to work on the mission in Zimbabwe for many years in the 1990s.

In recent weeks he has been suffering from heart failure and went into the Royal for some treatment on Monday. He collapsed while in the hospital, but the medics managed to revive him. However, he was gravely ill, and although by Tuesday evening he appeared to be making a miraculous recovery, he had another heart attack on Wednesday evening and died shortly afterwards.

We are grateful that Andrew was able to give him the Last Rites of the Church and both of us and members of his family were able to visit him in the hospital.

We will miss him: I have known him since my boyhood in Clapham and he brought me on vocation meetings to Bishop Eton in the 1960s. May he rest in peace. We hope to have his funeral on Monday, 13 December, at noon.

THE BISHOP ETON COMMUNITY:

The Redemptorist family has also settled down after some of the traumas of the past year. We have reduced from fourteen to ten in residence, but those who need care are now receiving excellent support and Frs Gabby Maguire and Tony Hunt are settled in their   nursing homes: the Little Sisters Home in Birmingham and Nazareth House in Birkenhead respectively. Sadly, we have lost Frs Brian Russell and Martin Gay, but we trust they are now praying for us and with us in a better place.

On the upside, we had the joy of the Ordination of Michael Taylor in Bishop Eton last Tuesday, followed by his Mass of Thanksgiving in St Mary’s on Wednesday. Both occasions were blessed in every-way and I am extremely grateful for the wonderful support of Christine, our cook, and the teams who ensured that the receptions afterwards were such a success.

Fr Martin Gay C.Ss.R. RIP:

Fr Martin’s Funeral  took place at 12.00 noon, on 16 August. 

A recording of the Requiem Mass is available at the following link: https://vimeo.com/585926029/5004659d0e 

FR ANDREW AND HIS PAPAL BLESSING

Thankyou to Fr Richard for taking and posting the photos below.  You should be able to view the Facebook post even if you do not have Facebook.

ARCHDIOCESAN OBITUARY & FR TIM'S HOMILY FOR DEACON JOHN KEELEY RIP

ARCHDIOCESAN OBITUARY

The Archdiocese has circlated an obituary for Deacon John Keeley RIP - which you can read  by clicking here.

FR TIM's HOMILY AT DEACON JOHN RIP's FUNERAL

Last Sunday was Good Shepherd Sunday and the world day of prayer for vocations. It seems to me that John had a very clear idea of the meaning of vocation. A hard-working craftsman, dedicated to his wife and family, I know that he also shared in the joys and sorrows of his large extended family, someone who was always utterly dependable. I know too that he was also dedicated to the parish family of Bishop Eton, so much so that when some of the parishioners sewed in him the seed of a possible vocation to the diaconate, he decided to test the water and discuss the matter with the then parish priest, Peter Brett. Peter’s response: something along the lines of “I thought you’d never come” rather took him by surprise, but it was all he needed to allow the Spirit of God to do the rest. In his training he was nobly supported by Peter and they remained lifelong friends. Of course, this was the time of Archbishop Derek Worlock and John was to become one of the pioneers of the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese. If he had survived one more day his marital vocation would have reached its 51^st anniversary. His vocation to the diaconate resulted in over thirty years of service, which included more than five beyond the official age of retirement at 75. I know that he treasured those years of ministry and the opportunities it afforded him to live his Christian life to the full.

Read more: Archdiocesan obituary & Fr Tim's homily for Deacon John Keeley RIP

COMMUNITY UPDATE:

I am pleased to report that Bro William and Fr Bev Ahearn have now settled back into the life of the community extremely well. At the same time we are having a very fruitful conversation with ‘Social Services’ and, hopefully, a much more thorough ‘Care Plan’ for the whole community will soon be in place. Unfortunately, Fr Martin Gay has had to go back into hospital to try and stabilise his COPD condition.

Meanwhile, Fr Tony Hunt, who had another week or so in hospital, is now back at ‘Church View’. We are working with ‘Social Services’ to arrange for his and Fr Jimmy Smale’s future care. Thank you for your continuing prayers for us all.

HOMILY AT THE FUNERAL OF FR BRIAN RUSSELL

The homly at Fr Brian Russell C.Ss.R RIP's funeral was given by Bishop Ralph Heskett C.Ss.R. You can read it in full at  http://www.redemptorists.co.uk/preaching-and-prayer/homilies-and-reflection/2262-homily-fr-brian-russell-cssr-rip.html?

The recording of the Funeral is available to watch below.

ORDINATION MASS FOR FR ROYSTON PRICE C.Ss.R

 FUNERAL OF FR GABRIEL MAGUIRE CSSR

THE REDEMPTORIST COMMUNITY:

This week we have welcomed Fr Michael McGreevy to our community. The Clapham community has had to disperse while the monastery is being completely renovated, leaving just a skeleton team there to look after the parish and the Ace of Clubs (our centre for those who are homeless and deprived).

It is no secret that many of the confrères in the Bishop Eton community are reaching a stage where they are going to require more support and with Social Services we are investigating ways in which we will be able to provide that help. Once it is clear what the nature of that support will be and how many hours are involved, I anticipate advertising firstly in our bulletins.My hope is that we will be able to build a homogeneous team around the wonderful morning team and the cook who already care so lovingly for us.

Again, on the bright side, Fr Andrew was discharged from hospital on Tuesday and resumed his treatment on Friday. Please keep him and all those who are sick in the community and in our parishes in your prayers.