Archbishop

embarked on a course at the Catechetical Centre in Dundalk until the summer of 1979. That September, he was appointed to the Christian Education Centre of the archdiocese, becoming involved in catechesis and in the oversight of religious education in the Catholic schools of the archdiocese. For the next twelve years this was his principal work, though he did assist in the various parishes in which he was resident: Christ the King, Liverpool from 1979 to 1980; St Mary’s, Lowe House, St Helens 1980 to 1981; St Agnes, Huyton 1981 to 1986 and St Peter and St Paul, Crosby 1986 to 1991. He was renowned for his wonderful creativity, and his cheerful and positive disposition, both in his work for the Christian Education Department and in the parishes he served.

In January 1991, he was asked by Archbishop Worlock to take up the office of parish priest at St Leo, Whiston, in addition to his duties within the Christian Education Department. He returned, in January 1996, to St Agnes, Huyton, now as parish priest. After nearly four years, he moved on to Our Lady, Help of Christians, Portico in November 1999. He remained at Portico as parish priest for the remainder of his life, dearly loved by his parishioners and where he felt very much at home.

In his spare time, he loved to walk in the countryside, especially the Lake District and

Gugerotti

The former Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, has visited Syria and Turkey following the devastating earthquake which struck in early February. Archbishop Gugerotti served in London from 2020 to 2022 and was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches at the Vatican in November 2022.

A statement from the Dicastery said, ‘Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, brought the Holy Father’s “closeness” to the people of Syria and Turkey in the wake of the recent disastrous earthquake’, and described the visit as a ‘gesture of closeness and proximity to the suffering people combined with the desire to encourage all those who are working to deal with the emergency, and at the same time the need to establish a better coordination of initiatives and project preparation for all the works that will be needed in the months to come.’ the Peak District. The last few years of his life were a great trial to him as his mobility was severely restricted and he was reduced to walking very slowly around a local park. Sadly, he had also to relinquish his duties in the Education Department, but he remained enormously proud of his forty years’ service to Catholic education.

In Syria he visited relief centres for earthquake victims in Aleppo and met some of the charitable organisations working in the area. He also took part in the celebration of a Mass at the local Latinrite parish in the city before a meeting with the city’s Catholic and Orthodox bishops, together with some Muslim leaders. In Damascus he met with with the Patriarchs and Bishops resident in the capital.

In Turkey he visited Istanbul and held a meeting with the Bishops of Turkey and the directors of the Caritas offices involved in assisting earthquake victims.

His body was received into Our Lady, Help of Christians, Portico, on the evening of Sunday 19 February when Archbishop Malcolm celebrated Mass. His Funeral Mass was celebrated by Bishop John Rawsthorne on Monday 20 February in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, prior to burial at St Lewis, Croft.