Father Terry Murray RIP

Father Terry Murray OMI, parish priest of Sacred Heart Church, Quex Road, and Immaculate Heart of Mary, West Kilburn, died suddenly on 8 December. He was just 61.

Fr Terry was a member of The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He served in the parish of St Teresa of the Child Jesus in Norris Green, Liverpool, throughout the 1990s. He later moved to the Our Lady Immaculate Church in Darndale, Dublin, where he frequently organised day trips to Liverpool for under-privileged children.

In 2019, he was welcomed to the Sacred Heart Church and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Kilburn, northwest London. Around 1,500 people gathered for a special Mass celebrating the arrival of their new parish priest, with guest visits from the Mayor of Camden and representatives of the Church of England.

Shell Roca, from Caritas Deaf Services told ICN: " 'Hello my friend' was the greeting that Fr Terry always gave me when I saw him. And he was indeed a friend to the Deaf Community. Having spent time at St Joseph's School for the Deaf Boys in Dublin, he understood the isolation and exclusion often experienced by the Deaf Community and always made sure that his parishes were welcoming and open for the Deaf Community. I have lost count of the number of BSL taster courses that we ran at the parish, all of them at his suggestion and instigation. He supported my work in so many ways. He will be missed by so many, the Deaf Community included and definitely by me. Rest in peace and rise in glory, my friend."

A spokesman for Ashford Place, a charity based in Brent, which helps people access community support and health and social services, said: "Father Terry was an amazing person, dedicated to the community and generous to a fault. We remember him fondly when he used to cook supper for our homeless clients before Covid-19 and was always on hand to listen and emphasise with people."

A spokesman for the Diocese of Liverpool said: "Fr Terry Murray OMI was well loved by all who knew him. He was a kind and compassionate priest. He served in the parish of St Teresa of the Child Jesus in Norris Green with the Oblate of St Mary Immaculate, and was prison chaplain at San Quentin State Prison, CA. The Archdiocese joins prayer with those who mourn his loss and pray for his happy and eternal repose."

Fr Terry's Funeral Arrangements are as follows:

Kilburn:

Reception of remains: Wednesday, 27 December at 7pm, Sacred Heart Church, Quex Road, Kilburn, London NW6 4PS

Funeral Mass: Thursday, 28 December at 12noon, Sacred Heart Church, Quex Road, Kilburn, London NW6 4PS

Webcam link: www.churchservices.tv/kilburn

Norris Green, Liverpool

Mass and Burial: St Teresa of the Child Jesus, Norris Green, Liverpool, L11 3BW

Friday 29 December 12noon.

Webcam link: www.churchservices.tv/teresanorrisgreen

We hope to publish a fuller obituary and more tributes soon.