Obituaries & Tributes

"Justin had a passion for justice and a deep belief in the dignity and rights of every human being which drove and defined him." Caoimhe de Barra, Trócaire CEO It was with great sadness that we learned that former Executive Director of Trócaire Justin Kilcullen has passed away. Justin joined Trócaire in 1981 and worked for many years in Africa and Asia. Justin was appointed Executive Director ... Read More

Anne Vickery, aged 98, passed peacefully in her sleep on June 23rd, 2024. Anne was a beloved sister, aunt, friend, and community member and will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Anne was born on June 24, 1925 in Surrey to Nora Neef and Fredrick Vickery. Her brother Walter Vickery was born four years earlier in 1921. Anne and her brother spent much time on the farm of her grandmother, Anne Ha... Read More

Father Hugh Seenan, Provincial Delegate of the sector of Great Britain from the Society of the Missionaries of Africa announced the return to the Lord of Father Edward Woo - (known to many as 'Fr Eddie') on Sunday, 9th June 2024 in London. Fr Eddie was 85 years old. He served as a missionary for 55 years in Tanzania, Kenya and Great Britain. Let us pray for him and for his loved ones. His Funeral ... Read More

The Filipino people and especially the Christian churches, have to take a truthful examination of conscience when faced with the shocking truth that at least 30,000 Filipinos were victims of summary execution and more suffered harsh imprisonment without due process, when the rule of law was ignored during the Duterte administration. It was not unknown, it was announced by the candidate before the ... Read More

Mgr Martin Hayes, Vicar General in the Diocese of Westminster: I write with the sad news of the death early this morning, Tuesday 14 May 2024, of Fr Francis Wahle. Fr Francis died peacefully at University College Hospital in London on the Feast of St Matthias, Apostle. Fr Francis was born in Vienna, Austria in August 1929 and ordained to the priesthood at Palazzola, Rome July 1965 and had been ret... Read More

The Archdiocese of Glasgow has announced the death of Fr Desmond Broderick, who was 'a hugely popular pastor.' Fr Broderick was born in Glasgow in 1924 and educated at St Conval's Primary School and Holyrood Secondary School, and at St Mary's College, Blairs. He was called up for army service during World War II. Following army service, Fr Broderick resumed his seminary training and was ordained i... Read More

Joseph Nangle, OFM, writes: The outpouring of tributes and the celebratory funeral liturgy for Bishop Tom Gumbleton bring deep thoughts about the Catholic priesthood which he so well represented. Even had he not become a bishop, Tom would be remembered for his commitment to his priestly vocation and the effect it had on thousands of people. Father (Bishop) Gumbleton will live in our memories as a... Read More

Monsignor George Hay, was Rector of the Venerable English College in Rome from 1978-1984. Monsignor Hay died peacefully aged 93 in Kingskerswell, south Devon, on 1 April 2024. George Hay was born in Mardan, British India (now Pakistan) in 1930 and retained many happy memories of his childhood there. Later the family returned to Britain and George was educated at Ampleforth College. He opted for m... Read More

Pax Christi write: We are sad to report the death of Fr David Standley, a priest of Southwark Archdiocese and a long standing peacemaker. David died peacefully in St Peter's Residence, Vauxhall on Thursday 21 March 2024. David's ministry was rich and varied. In the 1970s he was university Chaplain in Cambridge and the University of Kent. He then served in parishes including Bexleyheath, Clapham, B... Read More

Today I read a stirring obituary written by Pat Gaffney from Pax Christi about Fr David Standley, a priest of the Southwark diocese, whose funeral will be at 10 am at St George's cathedral on 25th April. In it she gave witness to his campaigning and achievements for peace and justice. My experience of him, however, was simply as our parish priest at St Vincent de Paul parish in Battersea (1998-201... Read More

The Bishop of Galloway, Bishop Frank Dougan, has today announced that Fr Martin Chambers, a priest of the Diocese of Galloway who was shortly to be ordained as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Dunkeld, has died. Bishop Dougan said: "It was with a heavy heart and the deepest sadness that I learned today of the death of Fr Martin Chambers, a priest of the Diocese of Galloway and the Bishop-Elect of... Read More

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 o... Read More

Pax Christi USA has issued the following statement today: "With heavy hearts and profound affection and appreciation, Pax Christi USA announces that Bishop Tom Gumbleton, our first bishop president, has died at the age of 94." Ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1962, Bishop Gumbleton was named an auxiliary bishop and appointed vicar general of the archdiocese in 1968. He was invit... Read More

The latest issue of 'The Way', the journal of Christian Spirituality published by the Jesuits in Britain, pays tribute to Philip Endean SJ (1954-2023). He was a true gentlemen, an eminent scholar, and his spirit had all the agility of an acrobat. Among his academic interests were Karl Rahner, St Ignatius Loyola, the early Society of Jesus, and Gerard Manley Hopkins, a variety which this selection ... Read More