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news diary Obituary of Canon Peter Cronin Canon Peter Cronin former Parish Priest of St Andrew’s, Hunts Cross and Sacred Heart, Chorley died at Ince Blundell on Saturday 2 May aged 97 and in the 70th year of his priesthood. Peter Cronin was born in Clonbanin Cross, Mallow, County Cork, on 29 July 1917, the son of Jeremiah and Margaret Cronin. He was educated at St Teresa’s College, Castlemartyr, County Cork, before going on to Mount Melleray Seminary and St Peter’s College, Wexford, to study for the priesthood. He was ordained priest at St Peter’s College, Wexford, on 10 June 1945. Following ordination he was appointed as assistant priest at St Cecilia’s, Liverpool in June 1946 moving to St Sylvester’s, Liverpool in December 1951, to St Margaret Mary’s, Liverpool in October 1960 and to St Paul’s, West Derby in December 1968. In February 1971 he succeeded Fr Vincent Gaskell as parish priest of St Andrew’s, Hunts Cross. After more than six years at Hunts Cross he moved in November 1979 to Sacred Heart, Chorley. He remained at Sacred Heart until his retirement in September 1998. He was appointed as an honorary member of the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter in 1995. In retirement he lived in Southport and at Ince Blundell. Following a Vigil Mass at Holy Family, Ince Blundell on Sunday 10 May his body was taken to Ireland for the celebration of the Funeral Mass and burial.
Obituary of Rev Michael Lee Parish Priest of St Columba’s, Huyton for over twenty-five years, Father Michael Lee, died on Tuesday 5 May. He was 87 years of age and had served as a priest in the archdiocese for 45 years. Michael James Lee was born in Birkdale on 23 June 1927, the son of John and Mary Lee. He attended St Teresa’s School, Birkdale, and St Mary’s College, Crosby. He then read law at Liverpool University, where he was a prominent member of the Catholic Society, though his studies were interrupted by national service. After graduation he worked for Royal Insurance, advising many priests during this period over insurance matters. Having cared for both his parents until their death, he then felt able to offer himself as a candidate for the priesthood and was sent by Archbishop George Andrew Beck to the Beda College in Rome to undertake his seminary formation. He was ordained priest in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool, on 30 March 1970.
Obituary of Rev Gerard Lee Father Gerard Lee who served as Parish Priest of Our Lady, Help of Christians, Portico, Prescot for over twenty years died at Nazareth House, Birkenhead on Saturday 25 April aged 90, having served as a priest in the archdiocese for almost 64 years. Gerard Lee was born in Liverpool on 8 January 1925, the son of Patrick and Margaret Mary Lee. He attended St Alexander’s School and St Martin’s College, Bootle, before going on to St Joseph’s College, Upholland to study for the priesthood. He was ordained priest in the college chapel at Upholland by Bishop Joseph Halsall on 19 May 1951. Following ordination he held a number of appointments as assistant priest: at Our Lady’s, Eldon Street from September 1951; at Holy Ghost, Ford from May 1955; at St Joseph’s, Wigan from October 1961; at Our Lady of Good Help, Wavertree from October 1962 and at St Theresa of the Child Jesus, Sutton Manor from June 1971.
His first appointment was to St John’s, Kirkdale, in September 1970. In December 1971 he was appointed Director of the Pastoral Institute. After relinquishing this post he had three further appointments as assistant priest firstly at St Francis of Assisi, Garston in January 1975, moving to St Clare’s, Liverpool in August 1975 and to the Skelmersdale Team Ministry in May 1982.
In August 1977 he succeeded Father Edmund Whitaker as parish priest of Our Lady, Help of Christians, Portico. This was to be his only appointment as parish priest and he remained at Portico until his retirement in April 1998. In retirement he lived, until the last few months of his life, at Greasby, before finally moving to Nazareth House in Birkenhead.
In September 1985 he succeeded Father Thomas Frayne as parish priest of St Columba’s, Huyton. This was to be his only appointment as parish priest and he worked tirelessly in Huyton until his retirement in September 2011. In retirement he lived at Southport, until increasing frailty forced him to move to Ince Blundell
Archbishop Malcolm McMahon celebrated his Funeral Mass at Nazareth House, Birkenhead on Wednesday 6 May prior to burial at Frankby Cemetery.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon at St Columba’s church, Huyton on Thursday 14 May prior to burial at sacred Heart, Ainsdale.
‘May they rest in peace’ Catholic Pictorial
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