Fr Bernard Desmond Heaphy - Obituary

Bernard Desmond Heaphy was born in Lee, Lewisham in 1937. He went to school at St Joseph's Academy, Blackheath. He then studied for the priesthood at St John's Seminary in Wonersh and was ordained at Our Lady of Lourdes, Lee on the 17th of June 1962. After ordination he went to Cambridge University to study physics and subsequently taught at St John Fisher School, Purley for 10 years. He then served as assistant priest in Woolwich from August 1977, and Parish Priest in Tooting from February 1980 until Archbishop Michael Bowen appointed him Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Rosary, Brixton, in 1984 for the next 30 years until he retired in 2014.

He is survived by his two sisters Patricia in Ireland and Nora in America.

As a young priest ordained at the time of the Second Vatican Council, Fr Bernard was excited by the renewal of the Council and he studied and prayed for inspiration on how this renewal could happen in his parish. In the late 1980's he got in contact with the Neocatechumenal Way, a way of faith formation in small communities, to bring to the parish the renewal of the Second Vatican Council, answer to the anonymity of the big city, foster knowledge and love for the Word of God and renew liturgical forms in ways that would speak to the lives of his parishioners. Today, as a fruit of this experience in the parish, families are strengthened and open to life, numerous young people rediscover the Catholic faith and participate in weekly liturgies, and there are four men in seminary formation.

Fr Bernard also welcomed other realities to help his parish - the Legion of Mary and the Society of Christian Doctrine - who prepared many for First Communion and Confirmation.

What is remembered about Fr Bernard is that he was humble, optimistic and full of joy.

During his time in the parish, he arranged for the reordering of the church, underlining the centrality of baptism and the Eucharist, with the font and altar in the centre of the church, and the beautiful icon in the apse of the glorious mysteries of the rosary. Always with an eye to the practical, he also had a disabled ramp installed outside the church.

Following Christmas 2024 he had a short illness and went to hospital for exactly 40 days - his Lent - to prepare him for his Passover to the eternal promised land. His bed had a steady stream of visitors. He died on the 15th of March 2025.

Canon Victor Darlington, in his homily at the vigil reception and vespers said 'What stood out most was his pastoral heart. He knew his people, visited their homes, shared in their joys and their sufferings. His ministry was shaped by encounter - face to face, soul to soul.' At the funeral Mass on the 12th of April Archbishop John Wilson shared how Fr Bernard 'gave himself generously as a priest… the same spirit that strengthened him as a priest is the gift to you and me.'

May he rest in eternal peace.