Obituaries & Tributes

The Irish Bishops Conference has announced the death of Bishop Willie Walsh, Bishop Emeritus of Killaloe. He was 90 years old. Archbishop Eamon Martin said: "I was sad to learn this morning of the death of Bishop Willie Walsh, a caring pastor, inspired by love of the Gospel, and, as his own motto put it, a bishop living by 'the gentleness of Christ'. "Throughout his almost 66 years of priesthood, ... Read More

Jacquelyn (Jackie) Solly, nee Solman Born 17 September 1928, died 26 December 2024. Jackie Solly was not a famous woman. She grew up in a poor, working class family in Maidstone, Kent, and attended Maidstone Art School, where she specialised in dressmaking and calligraphy. For some time after she left Art School she worked at Worth's, one of London's leading fashion houses, making clothing for the... Read More

Julia Forsythe, a much-loved parishioner at Our Lady Help of Christians in Kentish Town, northwest London, died on 13 December 2024. Born in Cork, Ireland, Julia came to London in 1957, where she worked in a company on the stock exchange before becoming a teacher. She married Joe in 1974. They had two sons, Paul and John. Julia was a very active member of her parish working on many projects with t... Read More

All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield issued the following statements today: Following the tragic death of our much-loved student, Harvey Willgoose, Steve Davies, CEO of St Clare Catholic Multi Academy Trust, Bishop Ralph Heskett, Bishop of Hallam and Father Mark McManus, parish priest at St Joseph's, Handsworth have shared the following messages: Steve Davies on behalf of All Saints Cat... Read More

The Funeral Mass of Fr Sean Carroll took place yesterday, 30 January, at Most Sacred Heart Church, Ruislip. Cardinal Vincent Nichols presided and Fr Joe Ryan gave the following homily. Dear Friends, In June 1988, 36 years ago, Archbishop Thomas Morris ordained 14 young men to the priesthood in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles, Co Tipperary. James Walton, Celcus Tierney, Michael Ryan, Mgr L... Read More

Anastasios Yannoulatos, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania, died in Athens, Greece, on Saturday, 25 January. 2025 at the age of 95. An influential catalyst in the Orthodox world and a giant in the ecumenical sphere, Archbishop Anastasios died after a short illness. An honorary member of the Academy of Athens and a former World Council of Churches (WCC) president, with more than six dec... Read More

A note on the home page of the Sacred Heart church, Ruislip, reads: It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved parish priest, Fr Sean Carroll. He was found in the presbytery on the morning of 5th January 2025, the day before his second anniversary of arriving at Most Sacred Heart, Ruislip. We give thanks for his devoted, joy-filled service to our community and the other pa... Read More

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research announces the death of our founder, John Wijngaards, on 2nd January 2025. For nearly 50 years, John - whom many knew as 'Hans' - was a prominent supporter of the ordination of women in the Catholic Church. In 1998, he took a very public stand for this cause, resigning from the Catholic priesthood in prote... Read More

Pope Francis has said he is "saddened to learn of the death of former president Jimmy Carter" and offered his "heartfelt condolences" and prayers for those who mourn his passing. In a message signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Pope recalled Carter's "firm commitment, motivated by deep Christian faith, to the cause of reconciliation and peace between peoples, the defence of h... Read More

Jimmy Carter will be celebrated for his foresight in urging the world to take climate change seriously, decades before it became fashionable. He should also be remembered for standing up for a tolerant and inclusive reading of Christianity, at odds with the prevailing fundamentalist tide in his native Deep South. But my memories of President Carter are from working together to promote the work of ... Read More

Faith leaders around the world have been offering their condolences and prayers to the families of the 179 people who died this morning as their plane crashed while landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea. This was Korea's worst-ever airline disaster. Only two people were rescued alive from the wreckage of the Jeju Air plane. Speaking after the Angelus prayer with pilgrims in St Pete... Read More

The Diocese of Westminster has announced the sad news of the death in the early hours of Christmas Eve, of Fr David Barnes, Parish Priest of St Anselm and St Cecilia, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Fr David died peacefully at St John's Hospice in St John's Wood, having turned 80 years of age on 23 December. Fr David was born on the Isle of Man on 23 December 1944. He had ministered as a priest of the Churc... Read More

Pax Christi USA writes: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matthew 5:6 With heavy hearts, Pax Christi USA announces the passing of Fr Joe Nangle, OFM, our 2023 Teacher of Peace, Ambassador of Peace, and longtime beloved friend, who died on December 14 at the age of 92. "Father Joe Nangle was the 'real deal' as a follower of Francis of Assisi... Read More

Tributes have been paid to Father Peter Keeling, who served in parishes throughout the diocese and was the last parish priest of the "Old" St Mary's Cathedral in Sussex Street, Middlesbrough. Bishop Terry Drainey was principal celebrant at Father Peter's Requiem Mass at a packed St Francis of Assisi Church, before burial in Acklam Cemetery. Born on the town's Grove Hill estate on March 18 1938, F... Read More