St Albans RC Church Redcar
Union of Catholic Mothers
Wilf Mannion
St Abans In The Past
We Were There In 1982
Lets Have A Debate
Norman Evans MBE
Lady Mayor
Crusade
The Cupid Cleric
First Communion 2004-2005
Obituary
Your Joking
New Beginnings
The Queen Arrives
A Meaning to Life
1933
The Cross-1900
For the Older Perso.
What's Your Hobby
AJourney of a Lifetime
Rowing the Atlantic
St Albans School
Sacred Heart and St Benedict- New Schools
Confirmation 2005
A Tale or Two to Tell
Redcar Cemetery
New Housing Estate
Sacred Heart School
Local Heroes
Out and About
Where does your Street Name come from?
Bishop Terry
My Old Banger
Post Cards
New Hospital
Do You Remember When?----
Human Fertililisation and Embryoligy Bill
A Dream Come True
Message Board
Guestbook
Event Calendar
Mail Form
|
In Memory
Individual Parishioners or their families may not wish to be featured in this column but if they do they can e-mail gedffleming@hotmail.com.
In the past we have had Priests visit us to celebrate Sunday Mass and over the years people have developed a great effection and respect for these Priests, some unfortunately are no longer with us.
Fr Gerry Smith.
I first met Fr Gerry when he was a young Curate at St Mary's Grangetown in the late fifties, early sixties and he took a great interest in the YCW.One of the lads was showing off his motorbike and Fr Gerry was itching to have a ride.He was offered a ride as pillion and sat on the back.He wasn't prepared for the accelaration and was promply thrown off on his backside much to the amusement of the crowd.
His Parish Priest at the time was Canon Michael Deehan and my Sister-in -law was about to be married in St Mary's. At the same time her youngest sister was about to make her First Holy Communion and Canon Deehan thought it a good idea to combine the two.Fr Gerry and the wedding couple thought this ridiculous and at breakfast one morning Fr Gerry sitting round the table asked who's stupid idea this was and Canon Deehan admitted it was his and a compromise was found.
In 1966 he married my wife Margaret and I and later took over the Diocesen Rescue Society a Catholic adoption agency.
He could be seen many time taking children for trips to the seaside in his Volvo estate car.In later years he became Parish Priest at St Williams in Dormanstown were he is remembered with great effection. It was at this time he said Mass at St Albans. |
Canon Garvin O' Hara
 | Fr Garvin O'Hara as I knew him was Curate at St Peters in South Bank in the Fifties.He was a very devout Priest and very traditional and if he attended a social dance, he would look for couples who, in his opinion, were getting too amorous during slow tempo music and warn them about their behavior, like not dancing too close.He was born into a family of nine children which were unique in the fact that eight lads went into the Priesthood and one girl went into a Convent.Their parents must of been very proud in their native Ireland.
As children we lived opposite the Baptist Tabernacle in Henry St.South Bank.At this time there was a much loved Vicar there, Rev Whittaker who would hold Saturday morning film shows in their hall.My brother, sister and I would go along and for a few pence, we would have a great time.My mother unfortunately had a certain forboding as to whether she was doing the right thing,so went to Fr O'Hara for guidance's unfortunately he was adamant that going to this church was wrong,so we stopped going.This got back to Rev Whittaker who came to our house and asked for an explanation,he then went to Fr O'Hara and put it to him that this was a social gathering, to keep the kids off the street and give the parents some space.Fr O'Hara although not liking the arrangement, agreed for us to go back.
In later years Fr O'Hara,now Canon was based in Whitby and an old Priest friend, who hadn't seen him for a long time, asked about his health.Canon O'Hara said his knees were playing up and the Priest advised him not to kneel in prayer so long,God would understand, which I thought was very amusing.He was a much loved Priest in the traditional mould and all the changes taking place within the Church at the moment, wouldn't sit well with Canon Garvin O'Hara RIP. |
|
Canon Pat Bluett
 | | Canon Bluett, an uncle of our Fr Pat was a formidable character in many ways.He served as Army Chaplain and was awarded the Military Cross for Valour under fire.The photo above was taken when he was quite young and when I met him he was somewhat older with receding hairline.He was a Military man through and through who wanted everything to be spick and span at all times.He would play tricks on us Altar boys all the time and we would fall for it.He always wore army boots.He also wore a beretta and he would process to the Altar and start the Latin prayer 'Inomini Patris Et Felio Et Spiritus Sanctus'straight away, then when we were about to answer he would plonk his Beretta on our head.This being too big it would fall over our eyes so we could not read the response.During Benediction he would be wearing the cope round his shoulders and you would be behind him to grab it when he undid it and fold it neatly but nine time out of ten, he would go to drop it behind, wait awhile, then drop it, so letting it drop on the floor.He would then carry on with a smile on his face.We got our own back by imitating his bad knees.When he went to genuflect he would only bend one knee slightly,so we would do the same.I don't know what the congregation thought behind.He was a great Priest who left a lot of memories.RIP. |
|
This page has been visited  times. |
