Faith Winter Session

As administrator of the Faith Movement's Facebook group, I'm sorry to all 206 members for not setting up an event for the Faith Winter Conference sooner. Several people have been asking me and I've only just done it.

The event profile has now been set up on the social networking site and all members should have received their invitation.

To those who don't have a clue what I'm talking about, it's the annual winter conference of the Faith Movement held at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire. It's a fantastic Christmas event, full of stimulating talks, discussion, sports, activities, socialising and, most importantly, prayer and Mass.

This year's subject is:

"Before the world was made, God chose us in Christ" (Ephesians 1:4) St Paul’s vision of creation and salvation

The Talks:

"Ever since the creation of the world, His invisible nature has been clearly perceived in the things that He has made.” (Romans 1:20) Proving the existence of God today

“In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)Man is made for God

“All things were created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16) Jesus Christ: the meaning of the Universe and the meaning of my life

“The Church is His body, the fullness of Him who fills the whole of creation.” (Ephesians 1:23)The Church: Christ’s living presence in the world today

The event is for 15 to 35 year old Catholics and you can book here. But you must book and pay by December 10.

EDMs

As you may have guessed, I'm a bit of a parliament fan. My dissertation at university was riveting. It was on the perceptions of politicians and political journalists as to how and why parliamentary reporting has changed over the past couple of decades or so. I admit that, when there's not much on the TV, I flick over to BBC Parliament to see what's going on.

One thing that's important to keep your eye on is early day motions (EDMs) and whether your MP has signed one. These are formal motions submitted for discussion in the House of Commons although very few are actually debated. In reality, they are used for publicising a cause or point of view.

Some of them knocking around at the moment include calls for access to safe abortion as early as possible (tabled by Chris McCafferty, 59 signatures) and an extension to the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland (by Dianne Abbott, 38 signatures). The first of these refers to the HFE Bill/now Act but both still exist and are keeping the issue alive in parliament.

Both have relatively few signatures but there is another factor to consider, which means they have more support. They are controversial topics and are "matters of conscience". Therefore, they are unlikely to be signed by cabinet or shadow cabinet members, even though many may support them.

A good course of action would be to write to your MP expressing dismay if they are one of the names on the EDM.

On the Northern Ireland issue, pro-life campaigners from the province recently thanked supporters on the British mainland for their help in keeping the matter out of the HFE Bill. Dianne Abbott and her cronies have vowed to keep chipping away by introducing a private members' bill in the new session of parliament. But apparently, it's all down to when responsibility for criminal law is handed over to the Northern Ireland assembly. Then the politicians of NI will be in control of abortion law and it will no longer be partly in the hands of radical abortion MPs who have nothing to do with the province.

Veteran pro-life MP David Amess recently tabled a written question to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland asking when the responsibility will be handed over. It will be interesting to see what response he gets.

40 Martyr Reflections: Saint John Kemble

Fr Kemble’s imprisonment and execution at the age of 80 shows just how brutal the authorities were towards Catholics in the "Titus Oates plot" round up of priests, regardless of their age. Slung over the back of a horse and ridden more than 130 miles from Hereford to London to be questioned over a fictitious plot to overthrow the king, the frail priest must have gone through much pain at the hands of his captors. On the return journey to the city of his execution, he was allowed to walk most of the way. Writing a letter to a benefactor from Hereford prison, he said: "I have been so bruised in body that I have not been able to sit so long as to write to you." Despite his age, Fr Kemble was also dragged two-miles on a hurdle to the gallows on Widemarsh Common. And then, to top it all off, the hangman didn’t correctly apply the noose, meaning the elderly priest hanged for at least half an hour, dying by slow strangulation.

Contrast this with the story of the under sheriff coming to collect him for his martyrdom and joining him for a last smoke of his pipe and a final cup of wine. The story became famous and gave rise to the Herefordshire expressions "Kemble pipe" and "Kemble cup", meaning the last pipe or cup of a sitting. The custom was still recorded in the nineteenth century but was gradually lost with the disappearance of communal pipe sharing. Onlookers were impressed with the way the elderly priest calmly smoked his pipe on the way to the gallows. Similarly with St Alban Roe’s game of cards the night before his ordeal, these stories of normality bring out the bravery and joy the 40 Martyrs had in giving their lives to God when many of us would have probably freaked out and agreed to conform to the new religion.

Perhaps the most fascinating stories of St John Kemble are the miracles attributed to him – both involving unlikely people. Fr John was arrested by local police chief, Captain Scudamore. This was considered slightly odd since the man’s Catholic wife and children were parishioners of the priest. After his death, Scudamore’s daughter was suffering from a dangerous, life-threatening throat infection. She was cured by the application of the rope used to hang Fr Kemble around her neck.

Scudamore’s wife, Catherine, who was deaf, regularly visited the martyr’s grave. She joined other Catholics one day to pray at the graveside but didn’t hear the others leave and continued to pray. The pilgrims were stunned when Mrs Scudamore ran into the inn where they were having refreshments and said she could hear again.

John Kemble, the second-to-last of the 40 martyrs to be executed, was born at Rhyd-y-car Farm, St Weonard’s Herefordshire in 1599. He was the son of Anne and John Kemble. Unlike many of the martyrs, he was a cradle Catholic. The family home was thought to be a secret Mass centre, so John would have been used to the company of priests. One of his close relatives, George, was described as one of the "principal and most dangerous recusants in the diocese of Hereford". During the Civil War, the family was on the royalist side.

John followed his brother, William Walter, to start training for the priesthood. He went to Douai under the alias of "Holland". He was ordained on February 23 1625 and sent on the English mission on June 4. Not much is known about his remarkable 53 years as a priest. We shouldn’t be despondent about this lack of information because it’s the sign of an excellent English mission priest – someone who administered the sacraments, probably converted many people but who effectively evaded the authorities for such a long time. This is all the more amazing since Kemble is thought to have stayed relatively local to his home county throughout his priesthood.

When arrested in 1678 at Pembridge Castle where he was staying with a nephew, Kemble knew Captain Scudamore and his men were coming to get him. But he chose not to escape, thinking it would be advantageous to suffer for his religion. The aged priest was captured and carried off through the snow six miles to Kentchurch Court followed by a further fifteen mile journey to Hereford jail the day after.

The jail’s governor had great respect for John and had a pen and ink sketch of him produced. The priest’s family and friends also employed an artist. They were determined to get a good picture of the future martyr.

At his trial, Fr John was convicted for merely saying Mass at Pembridge. After being condemned to death, the elderly man was taken to London with Fr David Lewis on the orders of the House of Lords. Both were questioned about their alleged involvement in the Oates plot, a fraudulent conspiracy to kill King Charles II. In Newgate prison, Kemble met a crowd of confessors who were all there for allegedly being involved in the same plot. The authorities were unable to get anything out of the priest and sent him back to Hereford, a gruelling walk of more than 100 miles.

Awaiting his execution, Fr John was visited by crowds of Catholics, including the Scudamore children. Kemble said to them that their father was the best friend he had by arresting him.
During his short final speech on the gallows, Fr Kemble announced he had no concern with the Oates plot and was dying only for professing the "old Roman Catholic religion". He forgave the executioner for his impending action and prayed in Latin the last words of Jesus on the Cross, "Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit".

After the horrid half and hour martyrdom on August 27 1679, John’s cousin Captain Richard Kemble, who had ironically helped to save King Charles II’s life at the Battle of Worcester despite being severely wounded himself, took the priest’s headless body to Welsh-Newton churchyard and buried it at night. The spot became, and still is, a place of pilgrimage.

Among St John’s relics is his severed left hand that was picked up by a Catholic woman at the gallows. This is preserved at a shrine in St Francis Xavier Church, Hereford. There is also a chalice, missal and missal stand. A red chasuble dating back to 1502 may have been worn by Kemble.

Even if an 80-year-old man was to be convicted of murder today, he would be treated with relative luxury compared with Saint John Kemble. Like Blessed Nicholas Postgate, one of the 85 Martyrs of England and Wales, there was not much consideration given to his age by the authorities. He was subjected to long journeys in uncomfortable positions and the most excruciating death for an elderly man. And the only reason why he was killed was because he celebrated Mass. Yet he showed a remarkable presence of mind and calmness just minutes before being hanged, drawn and quartered. John knew when his time had come to give his life to the Lord and expressed genuine joy for this.

He is a marvellous saint for elderly people to pray to for strength of will and mind. Also, I don’t think there is one as yet, but surely Saint John is a contender for patron saint of smokers? I’m sure many puffing bloggers, who shall remain nameless, are glad of a particularly close companion in heaven…

Saint John Kemble, Pray for Us.

Apparitions

! EXPLICIT WARNING TO BBC BASHING CATHOLICS: Now brace yourselves. I'm going to say something that you may disagree with or just simply find absolutely outrageous. I actually think that the BBC's (yes, the BBC) latest drama featuring something remotely Catholic is actually pretty good! If you haven't seen it, take a look on BBC i-player, if only to confirm that Mr Bashing Secularism hasn't gone completely bonkers.

The programme is pretty gory in parts. The plot is a war between good and evil, where exorcism is the main weapon used by Father Jacob, played by Martin Shaw. The character is a Catholic priest who works in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints but based in England. He is drawn into performing exorcisms initially on a single dad Liam in the first episode who is possessed.

In the second episode on Thursday, Michael, a severely possessed homeless man played by Rick Warden, killed two of Fr Jacob's closest friends. The priest eventually managed to corner the man and bring the demons out of him during a somewhat violent exorcism.

The programme is dramatic and part of it is based around devotion to Blessed Mother Theresa. One of the vicitms of the homeless man, seminarian Vimal, was allegedly cured of leprosy after being taken care of by Mother Theresa and then praying to her shortly after she died.

I've read both books by Fr Gabriele Amorth, Rome's chief exorcist, who documents exactly what bizarre and dangerous things can happen if people indulge even in the slightest satanic practices. Apparitions, while being perhaps a little over the top, seems to be pretty accurate in its portrayal of the exorcism rite and the sinister and coercive means used by demons in wrecking people's lives.

The plot also has Catholics who are sceptical about the effectiveness of the sacramental and even doubt the struggle between God and the devil. I think this reflects the modern church well as even the most pious of people deny the existence of the evil one, therefore leaving themselves open to attack.

As you would expect, the programme isn't always Catholic friendly or an accurate reflection of the faith. For instance, at one point in the first episode, Fr Jacob has his confession heard over the telephone by Monsignor Vincenzo in Rome. And there's the usual homosexual Catholic character (Vimal) who is murdered in a brothel after being told by Cardinal Bukovak he doesn't have a future in the priesthood. Police officers also take the mick out of the Church's teaching on homosexuality.

But, taking all this into account, I'm of the view this is an important subject for the BBC to address. It's hopefully making the viewer powerfully aware about the minute by minute battle going on in today's world between good and evil - and that only Jesus Christ and his angels can defend us in the day of battle. Apparitions, I think, also effectively overturns the misconceptions about exorcisms being a "medieval ritual" and portrays it as an integral ministry of the Church.

Based on the first two episodes (not ruling out the possibility that things could get ridiculous in later weeks), it seems the BBC has, probably indirectly, produced a pretty Catholic drama.

Despite my review being cautious, I expect there will be many who disagree with my conclusions. I may have missed some glaring heresies in the series for which I apologise. Feel free to provoke discussion in the combox.

John Prescott response (or lack of)

Shortly after the third reading on the HFE Bill, I finally got a response to my letter to my MP, John Prescott. Or, rather, I got a response from his office accompanied with a letter from a government minister.

The main thrust of my letter was to ask him to oppose any abortion amendments tabled to the HFE Bill. I also urged him to vote against the bill at third reading. I got a letter from his secretary a few weeks ago saying that due to the amount of mail Mr Prescott gets, he wasn't able to respond to me personally but has written to the minister with my concerns.

Firstly abortion and, whatever the Labour government says, the contents of the HFE Bill/Act as a whole, are matters of conscience that are traditionally given a free vote in the House of Commons. Therefore, I'm sorry Mr Prescott, but a reply from the government minister telling me how hunky-dory the Act is won't do. I specifically asked about your voting intentions, despite no abortion amendments being tabled.

The truth is that John Prescott now can't be bothered to respond to constituents' concerns about the most fundamental issues of our age. He is too busy making crappy TV programmes about class in Britain to do that. When I was in the Sheffield Central constituency while at university, MP Richard Caborn, at that time Sports Minister, used to reply to my emails personally by post within days. I remember one occasion when I wrote to him on Thursday evening - a letter was through my door on the following Monday morning. His views were not too dissimilar to Prescott's - but at least he replied to explain his personal reasons why he opposed my view.

The former deputy prime minister stands down at the next election. He has one of the worst voting records on life issues of anybody in the House of Commons. As you may have guessed, Prescott voted for the HFE Bill. He'll certainly be getting another letter from me about his inadequate response and my displeasure about his vote for this hideous Act.

HFE Act

On Thursday, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill was given Royal Assent and became an Act of Parliament.

The majority of the Act's provisions will come into force in October 2009, with the bits relating to parenthood in April 2009.

The government statement said the Act "updates the 1990 law to ensure that it is fit for purpose in the 21st Century and keeps the UK at the forefront of developments in treatment and research".

Health Secretary Alan Johnson reiterated the false and mistaken presumption that cures for diseases will be found. He said: "This legislation gives hope to these individuals and families by enabling scientific research while maintaining proper controls.

"The process of scientific comment, Parliamentary inquiry, scrutiny and debate was policy making at its best."

When being debated a few years ago, more than 700 hours of parliamentary time were devoted to the foxhunting hunting ban. Foxes, bless them, are not sentient beings. They do not have any concept of the past, present and future. But humans are. Yet how long was taken to discuss the creation of human/animal hybrids, removal of the need for a father and an opening of the destroying embryo floodgates? Two or three afternoons in parliament plus a few days of committees. Ridiculous.

We all breathed a sigh of relief when none of the abortion amendments were selected and attached to the law. But the passage of the Act itself means there will be more abortions, even if the law does not define them as this. To destroy the human embryo after experimentation is exactly the same act as ripping a developing child out of its mother's womb. Thousands more embryos will be discarded.

Many of the so-called "pro-life" MPs who supported time limit amendments in the earlier stages of the Bill got caught up in viability arguments - saying the limit had to be cut because some babies can survive at 24 weeks. Many also spoke about the humanity of the unborn child around the 20 week mark. These points, the latter more so than the first, are of course important. But the danger is that we shift the abortion discussion away from what it should be - a philosophical debate about when life begins. The fact is that it begins at conception, when all characteristics are determined. We all know the pro-life position wins hands down.

The concept that the tiny embryo, that we cannot see with the visible eye, should enjoy exactly the same right to life as you or I is thought of as something strange and extreme by the modern secular world. MPs, the government and the powers that be obviously think it's just a batty position to hold.

Research laboratories have been given the go-ahead to basically do what they like with tiny human beings. Just as Catholics and other people of good will actively oppose and confront legalised abortion head on, so must we try to tackle this sickening piece of legislation when it is implemented next year. This killing of human life happens in research centres and universities, away from the average Joe Bloggs. With abortion, nearly every family has been affected by somebody they know who's had one. But who mourns the loss of left over embryos from IVF, for example?

Many courageous people stand outside the abortion clinics to pray, or write/go to see their MP about abortion or organise talks to argue the pro-life position. These are all fantastic witnesses. But we cannot forget the embryo.

One of my main regrets as Pro-Life Society President at the University of Sheffield was not doing enough to oppose the hideous embryo experimentation that was going on, and no doubt still goes on, in university premises. Several higher education establishments across the country dabble in this destruction. Surely we should be supporting pro-life students to protest outside the departments that do this research and encourage them to launch a peaceful "resistance movement" against embryo exploitation? We must step up the campaign against embryo destruction as well as abortion. Because, after all, it's basically the same thing.

Delia Smith on the Mass

Myself and friend Phil Cunnah join Delia in the KC Stadium's directors' box for Hull City v Norwich City in 2006

Last night I watched Delia Smith's second programme in her new series on BBC2. She showed us five recipes made from tins and jars from the larder. Crab and lobster fishcakes and Spaghetti Bolognese were just two of the delights.

But for five minutes of the half-an-hour programme, Delia spoke about her Catholic faith. For once, Catholicism in a good light was shown for all to see on prime-time British television. After some shots of crucifixes and red Mission boxes at her home, we were taken to weekday Mass at the renowned TV cook's parish church. The camera showed Delia praying with her daily missal and receiving Holy Communion. Her parish priest said she provided some excellent goods for the parish fair and that it was great to have a celebrity chef in the parish.

There was even an appearance by nun and art critic Sister Wendy Beckett, a good friend of Delia's. After taking in the British Library, they discussed their faith over a posh restaurant lunch.

I remember Delia talking at the Faith Summer Session a few years ago where she told the story of her conversion to Catholicism. One day a friend took her along to an Tridentine Mass. She didn't have a clue what was going on but understood that whatever it was, it was authentic. This visit to Mass was the start of her journey to the Church.

And Delia's main message when being interviewed for the show? Going to Mass is just like breathing! A simple, but fantastic way to describe how natural attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is.

Robber sentenced

As many of you know, I was robbed on a bus back in May on Holderness Road in Hull.

I was on the top deck of the number 57 going into town on a Saturday night for a drink with friends. A kid sat next to me and said he would pull a knife out if I didn't give him my wallet. I don't know if he did have a knife, but when he started reaching in his pocket I didn't hang around to find out. He made off with the wallet at the next stop with his mates.

The police eventually caught him. On Wednesday this week, George Andrew Milner was given two years in a young offenders institution after pleading guilty to my incident and another robbery at Hull Crown Court.

From me getting onto the bus to him running off further down the road, it was all over in two minutes. The police did a great job in catching him because my description was poor. The last thing you think about when you're being threatened is to make a mental note of what the guy is wearing etc.

It was the excellent CCTV facility on East Yorkshire busses that led to his identification and arrest. From looking at the footage, the police said he head butted me twice. I don't even remember that. It's amazing how your brain just scatters during such an incident. It must have only been a couple of small wacks because there were no injuries.

When I told people what had happened, some said I should have put up a struggle. But friends particularly from London (that has suffered so much knife crime recently) said as soon as you hear the mention of a knife, it's not worth it.

It's intensely annoying to have your wallet stolen, even if it only had £14 in cash in it. Cancelling bank cards, replacing your railcard, driving licence, snooker club membership card, work swipecard et al is so inconvenient.

I'd like to thank Humberside Police who kept me informed on progress throughout the procedure.

Finally, as a Catholic, I think it's important to forgive Milner and pray for him. Case closed as they say...

Obama: disaster

In 2004 when I was at the University of Sheffield, the American election was held. I couldn't find a single person, Catholics included, among the 20,000 students who wanted George Bush to win apart from myself. Not that I'm a Bush fan in particular, but that a vote for John Kerry, the so-called Catholic candidate, would have meant even more unborn lives being lost through abortion and destructive embryo research.

Bush has done many things during his presidency to ban the brutal practice of partial birth abortion in as many areas as possible, restrict funding of embryo research and forced abortion through UNFPA and promote abstinence education. He has been by no means fully "pro-life" and there was, of course, the Iraq war that has also claimed innocent victims but Kerry voted for that intervention as well.

In any case, four years ago, I decided a vote for Bush was the lesser of two evils in the two party American race. During the early part of the night, I was in the student's union bar cheering as various states went Republican. Not that I'm a big Republican supporter, mind. It was to wind people up more than anything, something which I tend to do from time to time.

This time around, I found myself in a similar situation - not discovering anyone face to face who wanted another Republican victory as the "lesser of two evils". To put on record, McCain didn't seem strongly pro-life either. But now Obama has made history as being the first black man to be elected to the White House, there is mass in-your-face hysteria on both sides of the Atlantic. "Isn't it wonderful, what an historic moment, he's a funny guy, he's down to earth, he's going to solve all our problems blah, blah, blah." I don't know about you, but I'm fed up of it already. And, to take this further, there's actually something quite sinister behind all of this.

Daily Telegraph blogger Gerald Warner sums the situation up far better then I can. The first thing Obama has said he will do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. This would abolish all restrictions on abortion in the US, overriding state laws, including 38 states' bans on partial-birth abortion. This is where the child is removed from the womb feet first, until only the head is undelivered. Scissors are then used to make an "incision" in the back of the head and a suction catheter sucks out the brain until the skull collapses. Oh, and he will also reinstate funding for the United Nations Population Fund, which heavily supports the One Child policy in China. And all this from the man who is supposed to be the unity and inclusion president. Is this the exciting new era that people are talking about?

Indeed, the abortion rate among black women is 49 per 1,000, compared with 13 per 1,000 among whites. The disproportionate killing of black children will surely increase as Obama opens the abortion floodgates. An ironic first move by the first black president of the US.

In his speech on 35th anniversary of Roe v Wade back in January, Obama said:

"Throughout my career, I've been a consistent and strong supporter of reproductive justice, and have consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America.

"When South Dakota passed a law banning all abortions in a direct effort to have Roe overruled, I was the only candidate for President to raise money to help the citizens of South Dakota repeal that law. When anti-choice protesters blocked the opening of an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic in a community where affordable health care is in short supply, I was the only candidate for President who spoke out against it."

He also said:

"But we also know that Roe v. Wade is about more than a woman's right to choose; it's about equality. It's about whether our daughters are going to have the same opportunities as our sons."

"This anniversary reminds us that it's not enough to protect the gains of the past – we have to build a future that's filled with hope and possibility for all Americans."

What hope? What possibility? The possibility for all Americans to assist killing children? Here, Obama's comments expose him for what he really is - an extremist. Not something you'll see being said in tomorrow's papers I'm sure.

I must say, as a journalist (although a bog-standard local news reporter), I've been genuinely shocked at how bias the coverage from the British media, and especially the BBC, has been over the last few months towards Obama. Damian Thompson exposed on his blog last week that more than 90 per cent of the Beeb's journalists are backing the Democratic candidate. To be honest, by the time his post was published, I wasn't in the least bit surprised by the news as you could quite clearly see from television, radio and internet coverage that our public service broadcaster had already decided for us which candidate was best for Britain and the wider world.

The truth is that Obama's election to the White House is a massive backward step. A sad day for tiny lives, but no one seems to realise or be remotely bothered about it...

Father Michael O'Connor RIP

Last Saturday evening (October 25), my first ever parish priest, Fr Michael O'Connor, died at the age of 77. His funeral Mass was on Friday at St Charles Borromeo Church, Hull, and as I've been on holiday, I was able to attend both this and the Mass at the reception of his body on Thursday evening.

In 1973, Fr Michael came to live in a caravan in Wembley Park Avenue, east Hull, while priest at St Teresa's. He was convinced that a new parish needed to be set up. So, from that caravan, my home parish (St Francis of Assisi) grew.

Two portacabins arrived, one that was to become the Church for 20 or so years and the other a hall-cum-storage hut. Over the years, they suffered from leaks and graffiti (including a swastika) on the outer wall before being replaced by a new church building in 1997.

A couple of events stick out vaguely in my memory from my childhood (bear in mind I was only born in 1985 and Fr Michael left in the early 1990s). One was to celebrate the feast of St Francis of Assisi. As he is the patron saint of animals, parishioners took their pets to a social event (I'm afraid neither me, or anyone in this household, remembers any further details but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a "Vicar of Dibley" everyone bring there pets to a service type affair). The other occasion was a fancy dress party that I won a prize at (I think I was dressed as a scarecrow although, again, my memory is hazy).

In the late 1980s, my uncle was diagnosed with cancer. Fr Michael helped to set up a fund and assisted in organising sponsored events (walks and all-night snooker events) so that Uncle John could go to Zurich for life-saving treatment. He died in 1988.

Fr was for many years a chaplain to Hull Kingston Rovers Rugby League Football Club and was a big fan. In Hull, there are two big rugby league teams. Readers anywhere apart from towns and cities along the M62, where rugby league is predominantly played, may not fully appreciate how big this game is in the city. The two teams are Hull KR and Hull FC and they play on either side of the River Hull. There is fierce rivalry between them. Traditionally, it depends on which side of the river you originate as to which team you support (although this is not the case all the time).

Running through Fr Michael's "CV" as it were, he was born in Kirkwall, The Orkney Islands on August 5 1931. As a young boy, his parents moved to Withernsea on the Holderness coast. He was educated at the Marist College, Hull, and went to seminary at Ushaw in 1948. He was ordained on July 28 1957.

His first appointment was to Corpus Christi in Middlesbrough where he was a curate until 1960. He then moved on to Sacred Heart in Hull until 1968 when he returned to Middlesbrough to St Patrick's. In 1972, he was back in east Hull at St Teresa's where Fr was for just a year before going to establish the parish of St Francis. He served there until the early 90s when he took a brief time off on sabbatical.

In 1991, Fr Michael was made parish priest of Sacred Heart in Hornsea, a small coastal town just north of Withernsea. There, he pursued his sailing hobby on the Hornsea Mere. On Thursday at the vigil Mass, his friends from the Mere were at Mass to pay their respects.

His last appointment was to Our Lady of Lourdes, Hessle, where my uncle is currently parish priest. Fr Michael retired in 2002 and moved back over to the east of Hull and to the historic market town of Hedon. Last July, I posted on his 50th Anniversary Mass.

Some of the most recent memories I have of Fr Michael were serving Requiem Masses for him at St Francis. In the last couple of years, some well-loved parishioners have died and Fr Michael celebrated their funerals. Each time, I was always impressed by how reverently he would incense the coffin and sprinkle it with holy water. It was an honour, therefore, to be at his funeral to witness the bishop blessing his coffin.

The current priests of all his former parishes were invited to concelebrate on the sanctuary on Friday while dozens of others took up five or six pews at the front of St Charles. I counted 48 priests, plus two deacons. I've never seen Hull's mother church so packed. We were lucky to get seats 40 minutes before the start. By 1pm, there were people nearly out on the street.

Afterwards, we were all invited to the Endsleigh Centre for a hearty buffet meal. Lots of memories were shared about Fr Michael's ministry.

The day was moving and Fr's death has emotionally affected many people. The Requiem was not only a commemoration of Fr's life, but a celebration of priesthood.

At Mass this morning, we were told that Fr Michael had left one of his chalices and a crucifix (that used to hung up in the portacabin) to St Francis' parish.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace, Amen.