Canon Roddy Johnson RIP

Canon Roddy Johnson

Fr David Stewart SJ writes:

"Wednesday of Easter Week saw the funeral of Canon Roddy Johnson, the much-beloved priest of Argyll and the Isles Diocese, friend to many and a popular radio broadcaster. Roddy died in the Belford Hospital at Fort William, Lochaber on the morning of March 16th after a sudden, brief illness. His most recent parish appointment had been at St Andrew's in Rothesay, Isle of Bute. He had served for several years at Stornoway, Isle of Lewis and at Caol and at Ballachulish, Lochaber. Canon Roddy was Vicar-General of his Diocese. His was a welcome voice on BBC Radio Scotland, frequently presenting the morning moment of prayer with his customary warmth and gentle humour.

St.Columba's Cathedral on Oban's waterfront was packed for the Requiem. Around 30 priests, of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles and of several religious orders, filled the sanctuary for the Mass, concelebrated by diocesan Bishop Brian McGee and Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB, who had travelled across the country from Aberdeen. People from all of Canon Roddy's parishes joined his family in the large congregation. Bishop Brian spoke warmly of Roddy's ministry and his earlier life as a forester was recognised by a sprig of Scots Pine placed on his coffin. His remains were taken for burial at Glen Nevis cemetery, Lochaber, in the shade of the mountain which he loved."

Sancta Familia have published this short video of Fr Roddy: www.facebook.com/reel/338234318686072

Born on 27 August 1954 in Sheffield, Fr Roddy joined the Catholic Church in 1989, aged 35. Four years later he was studying for the priesthood at the Beda College, Rome, before being ordained in St Columba's Cathedral, Oban in 1997.

Bishop Brian Mcgee writes in the Oban Times:

"Fr Roddy served as an Assistant Priest in St Columba's Cathedral, Oban for two years before becoming parish priest of St John the Evangelist in Caol, and also St Mary and St Finnan, Glenfinnan.

In 2011 he moved to Our Holy Redeemer Parish in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. He was the first diocesan priest to live on Lewis since the Reformation, but his sincerity, friendliness (and ability to fix chainsaws!) built lasting bonds across the wider community. The parishioners very much appreciated how he had brought the parish out of a defensiveness and into the mainstream of island life and friendships with Christian brothers and sisters from other denominations.

In 2019 he moved to St Mun's, Glencoe, serving also The Visitation, Taynuilt. The following year he further ministered in Our Lady of the Angels, Gingery, where he returned to in ill health. In 2022 he became parish priest of St Andrew's, Rothesay, Isle of Bute.

Throughout these 27 years, Roddy generously and enthusiastically helped the diocese in several roles, but especially as treasurer from 2013-16 and ultimately as the Vicar General from 2016-24.

When I moved to the diocese of Argyll and the Isles as bishop in 2016, my first appointment was to make Fr Roddy Vicar General. I am so glad that I did! Fr Roddy was such a rock to me and incredibly supportive on a personal level, a true friend.

However, not only was he committed to the work and put in the hours, but furthermore he was compassionate and understanding, always putting people at ease and often brought healing to difficult situations. He not only looked for good in everyone, he found it. When people aim to be fair, they point out someone's fault but then mention a good point to try and balance it up. However Fr Roddy began by listing positive attributes before acknowledging a fault. In other words, a failing was always put in the context of the person's overall goodness.

Fr Roddy was a great communicator who played an important role as Presenter, along with Cathy MacDonald, during the preparations for the Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow in 2010.

Through his decent humanity, his intellect and by drawing from both his vast variety of life experiences - Kibbutz, art school, labourer, musician and especially as a forester: it was through the Forestry Commission that, luckily for us, he eventually settled in Oban - Roddy loved being in a forest, smelling pine! His experiences of nature generally and of forestry in particular, made a deep impression on him and he often used his insights in his pastoral and spiritual ministry - Fr Roddy touched people well beyond the Catholic Church. One example was his excellent Thought for the Days on BBC Radio Scotland.

However, it was primarily through personal encounters that so many lives were enriched."...

... "Since his death many have paid personal tributes to Fr Roddy. It struck me that people frequently remarked that when they were troubled or feeling isolated he spent time with them in a gentle, uplifting and often humorous manner. Roddy reached out to those who felt fragile or outcast and restored them - not through miracles but through his decent and wise humanity, which included his deep spirituality.

Pope Francis urges the Church to reach out to those who feel on the 'margins'. Fr Roddy had always been doing this because as for him it was as natural as breathing.

When the lame man was healed, he praised God in the Temple, and so we, too, in this Church today thank God for the gift of Fr Roddy, who was so often an instrument of God's healing.

We also pray for Fr Roddy's family… We pray that he is now reunited with his loving parents Kathleen (Peggy) Margaret Ryan Johnston and James Johnston."