In Memoriam

From Facebook Archives

26 July 2015 at 20:05 ·

This is Fr Conleth O'Hara OP (Orderof Passionists), Llandeilo's Catholic parish priest for decades, and a friend and support to my parents.  He was quite ecumenical and was sometimes invited to preach in the local chapels (we have various forms of non-conformist in Carmarthenshire).

When Mother's Alzheimer’s meant she could no longer climb the steps up to St David's church he came out and said mass in our front room; with Granma's brass candlesticks for the candles and Dad as altar boy. Which must have broken some canon regulation as Dad was Anglican.

Sadly Fr Conleth was retired to London and was unavailable when Mum died - but his legacy meant she had a funeral in both St David's RC and St Paul's Church in Wales (i.e. Anglican) Manordeilo with priests of both denominations.   

When he learned Dad was dying he travelled down to visit and pray with him.   

Then he asked my brother if he could visit Mum's grave.  Bigbrother was happy to take him, and was touched to witness Fr Conleth saying prayers for her too.

This good cheerful hardworking man has finally gone to his rest and his funeral is tomorrow.

Bigsister is going to represent the family.

Asking if those of you who do such things could remember him in your prayers is the most appropriate way I can think of honouring his memory and saying 'thank you'.

Pinkitchen  He'll be in mine. xx

Miss O’B Oh  I wonder if any of the priests from Minsteracres are going.  I'm sure there'll be prayers at the monastery if you wanted to visit a Passionist order.

Mrs Lasagne   In my prayers RIP xxxx

Miss Fiddle  Will hold him in the Light (Quaker way of holding in prayer).

Paganess   Candle lit for him x x x

 

Post Script 2021

At the end of Fr Conleth’s funeral a man sitting in front of Bigsister turned to her and asked

“Are you Bentonbag’s sister?”

Somewhat taken aback she confessed that she was.

It was Mr ETwin, a friend from Newcastle University Catholic Chaplaincy day, who I’d seen only once in the four decades since we graduated.

He’s a Facebook friend so I suppose he was alerted to her presence by that post.

But it was still remarkably perceptive of him to spot a family resemblance.

 

Addendum

I have just received an email from Bigsister which reads

"Your friend said it was my singing which first alerted him to my presence . I was right behind him in full voice, Welsh style!! xx"  

Correction

Via Facebook from Mr ETwin

"Yes, definitely one of the good guys! He spent his declining years in Highgate (London) but every summer he left us a list of parishes across south Wales where he moved from one to the next doing supply, and that was his summer sorted. Incidentally it's CP (Congregation of the Passion). OPs are Dominicans (Blackfriars!), wouldn't do to get them mixed up."