Fr Pat McGrath passed away early on Thursday 8th November 2007. He taught in Salesian schools at Pallaskenry, Burwash, Shrigley, Bolton, Blaisdon, Cowley, and for 27 years at Battersea, where he became head of History. After retiring from teaching in 1986, he spent most of his remaining years assisting in the Sacred Heart Parish, Battersea. He will be remembered for his humility, his humour and kindness, his dedication and hard work and his deep spirituality.
The Funeral Arrangements are as follows:
The Funeral Mass will be followed by lunch in the school hall at 12.30pm.
Priests who wish to concelebrate are asked to bring albs and white stoles.
May he rest in peace!
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Funeral Mass Leaflet and photos
Fr Pat's coffin with various Christian symbols placed on it last night at the Vigil
Fr. Michael, Provincial approaching the Altar to say Mass
The large gathering of Salesian Concelebrants - over 30 Salesian priests attended
FR Pat's coffin with his religious symbols removed and handed over for safe keeping.
A part of the enormous congregation come to say farewell to Father Pat.
More of the large Congregation, who came to say farewell to a great Salesian Priest
The large congregation leaving to re-gather in the school hall for an excellent meal
SALESIAN SACRED HEART PARISH CHURCH - BATTERSEA - LONDON
Father Pat's body will be flown home to Ireland tomorrow, accompanied by Farther Des O'Riordan and Brother Joe Adams, for a family burial.
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Funeral Homily for Fr Pat McGrath
by Fr Peter Brealy
Picture Fr Pat passing before you on his way down the street. Black
overcoat, green pullover, cap in place, brown bag in hand, slightly bent but
striding forward determinedly into the breeze: a man on a mission to
someone, somewhere.
Now picture, if you can, the Lord Jesus, seeing the crowds before him,
climbing the hill, looking into the eyes of expectant, excited, people - all
hungry for good news.
Every day, Fr Pat, a faithful disciple, would join Jesus his Lord and Master
on the hill of the beatitudes and following the gaze of the Lord, would look
into the eyes of those in need. This man on a mission in his flat cap and
black coat was on his way to seek out those who were: hungry for
encouragement, a kind word, a cheerful greeting. And he found them on the
school yard, in the staff room, on the street, in the care home, on the
hospital ward. And each in their own way came to know the Lord's blessing
through the presence of a kindly, gentle, son of Don Bosco.
That brown bag, frequently misplaced, often repaired, carried many things
over the years. A well thumbed breviary certainly, but then some stranger
items too.
- A rolled up Connacht Tribune, already third-hand, on the way to someone
new.
- A battered tin box rattling with loose change and football tickets,
- an exercise book purloined many years before from the classroom, listing
raffle tickets bought and sold. And a few dog-eared sheets of paper -
precious homily notes for the Sunday mass.
And when the bag was left behind, somewhere, St Anthony was usually the one
recruited to reunited it with the owner; that and, of course, his keys!
Patrick Joseph McGrath was considered to be a late vocation when he became a
Salesian novice in Beckford, near Gloucester at the age of 18 just as war
with Nazi Germany was about to be declared.
Before then home was the family farm in Ballyskea, County Galway, as one of
twelve children, 9 brothers and 3 sisters. It was a hard but very happy
childhood. I never heard Pat speak of his twin brother Jack. Perhaps Jack's
death the day before their 46th birthday was one of the painful moments too
difficult to share.
The rigours of such a populated family life must have been ideal preparation
for the Community life of the Salesians. Patrick loved the companionship
although the superiors couldn't easily see beyond the apparent simplicity
and the determination not to take things too seriously.
Pat would often recall his extended time of teaching - his practical
training before ordination, when the superiors made him continue working in
school while his companions went on to complete their theology.
When requesting on one occasion, to study in France like Br Michael Lindsay
(because French would be useful for the classroom later), he was told by one
Provincial, 'You, you're not in the same league as Brother Lindsay.' The
remark was as ever shrugged off, but perhaps never completely healed.
The misplaced religious detachment of the time meant that when John McGrath
senior was dying Pat was not allowed to travel home before it was too late.
When, many years later, Pat's mother neared the end, he made sure he left
for Galway in good time simply telling the head master he would not be in
school on Monday.
Pat loved the classroom in those early years in Shrigley, Palleskenry,
Burwash, Bolton and Blaisdon, and all the assisting of the boys from first
thing in the morning till last thing at night when his own study would have
to be fitted in.
His ordination to the priesthood finally came in 1952 although he always
claimed the big achievement was being admitted to the sub-deaconate a few
months earlier!
The years that followed back at Blaisdon then Cowley (where he would teach a
future Provincial & Vice Provincial) led to a year at Chertsey studying for
the teacher's certificate. But it was in 1959 that Fr Hall sent him to
Salesian College Battersea where he became a form tutor and head of the
history department.
St Paul tells us that our earthly dwelling can be likened to a tent which is
eventually folded up. Well, Fr Pat's tent in Battersea was held down by some
mighty big pegs because his stay here was to last for nearly five decades.
It is the period that those of us gathered here today remember the most -
the time described by countless stories and personal reminiscences.
We may think that target setting in education is a new phenomenon. However
at a meeting of teachers from the (old) ILEA participants were asked by the
advisor to state their aims and objectives for the students in their charge.
Fr Pat responded promptly by stating that it was his wish that they should
all get to heaven!
Pat was a devoted teacher. He was keen to see his students do well, always
encouraging at least something even out of the most underachieving of
pupils. The department's text books were not exactly up-to-date or the
resources cutting edge but the boys learnt a lot about the Tudors and
Stuarts and in his enthusiasm for his subject their teacher could sum up a
span of 400 years with the statement: 'During that time there were many
battles'.
He invigilated exams with a nod and a smile when he knew the topics he hoped
for had come up. Trouble makers were never labelled but misbehaviour in the
classroom could result in a name being entered in the little black book or a
punishment such as: '250 words - comparing the political theory of Julius
Caesar with that of Margaret Thatcher'. To be handed in by 3.30.
Pat had always been good at sport so he took teams for soccer and hockey (or
was it hurling!?) He was great at tennis too. But many will simply remember
him for his presence in the yard before school and at lunchtime: showing
interest, giving an encouraging word, adopting an air of mock seriousness
while telling an awful joke.
In total Fr Pat was to teach at the Salesian College for 27 years. But in
1986 came his retirement from the classroom at the age of 65 and the
question - What next? At this point Fr McGrath and Fr James Conway travelled
to Dublin's Marianella Pastoral Centre for a three month course of updating
and renewal. He was then asked by Fr Michael to help out in the parish of St
Gregory in Bollington. Being North of Watford the problem was, of course,
snow. You would think, listening to Pat that snow was on the ground in the
North most of the year round. In bed he apparently needed nine blankets and
an overcoat on top to keep out the cold but he still had a frozen nose.
He was rescued by the need to return to London for Fr Thoburn's funeral,
never to return.
In September 1987 Pat joined the newly formed Parish Team with Fr Dennis and
myself and with it began one of the most pastorally fruitful periods of his
priestly life. There had always been the Sunday supply work to local
parishes and the friendships that had naturally developed with the local
people but now he was taking turns presiding at mass and engaged in the
whole spectrum of parish life. Our area system meant that he would deal with
whatever arose in his patch and he had particular responsibility for
marriage preparation.
We were making efforts to establish a greater sense of parish identity but
Pat's vision was always one of the whole Salesian Mission. It was never
particularly articulated, simply lived out in practical ways. Lunchtime
would see him back on the yard of Salesian College and in the staff room. He
would always try to keep contact with the past pupils. The young pioneers
would continue to meet monthly in the parish house. But then there was the
freedom during the day to visit the sick with Holy Communion or drop in for
a cuppa to families he knew. The primary school was on the doorstep and he
took very seriously his regular pastoral visits to the Salesian Sisters
always arriving at the most appropriate moments like 3 O'Clock on Christmas
afternoon. And then there was the role of chaplain and spiritual guide to
the guild of St Stephen altar servers enrolling amazing numbers every year
on 26th December.
Since his Confirmation - probably at the age of about 9 - Pat had been a
member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association dedicated to the Sacred
Heart of Jesus. The Pioneers in the parish have always been very apostolic
with events like the senior citizens Christmas Party. I'm not quite sure how
his Pioneer commitment fitted in with collecting bottles for the Christmas
Fayre or the liquor he kept under his bed as raffle prizes, but he was
certainly a faithful member - reminding us that sherry trifle didn't count
because it was food! This was obviously 'the banquet of rich food and fine
strained wines' promised in scripture.
And yes, there were his own culinary skills, honed two or three times a week
by the preparation of the evening meal. Work would begin at least one hour
in advance the general principal being 'give it plenty of the fire'. Thus
chicken would be served with peas, potatoes and hot lettuce with an
occasional alternative of lasagne with chips and peas or meat pie with
potato and peas, followed by apple pie - mercifully without peas! And then a
cup of stirred 4 to the right and 3 to the left, or was it the other way
round?
On two occasions we had to move house in Orbel Street which involved
transporting his precious collection of books and the steel cabinet acquired
from the Geography Department to house them. I have an image of this cabinet
half way up the stairs Pat at the top and Graham heaving below. Graham's
back has never been the same since!
Fund raising activities at Sacred Heart always included Fr Pat's sponsored
walk which was allegedly twelve miles along the banks of the Thames and took
in both Catholic Cathedrals.
There were other more doubtful financial activities involving horses.
Pat was a good judge of form but in the Grand National sweepstake, runners
and riders often bore little resemblance to horses that actually took part
in the race. Afterwards there would be the inevitable stewards' enquiry
followed by a meeting of the committee in secret. Eventually a hand-written
decision was posted on the community notice board (usually quoting rule 48)
and a payout of a fiver if you were lucky.
Not noted for his attendance at ecumenical meetings Pat joined the campaign
to save George Potter House with Canon Peter Clarke and their picture
together made it to the local paper.
The parish travelled on Pilgrimage to Lourdes on five occasions with Fr Pat
as chaplain and to Rome - his first time ever, and then in his Jubilee Year
with Fr Albert to the heart of the Salesian World - Don Bosco's Turin. It
must have been a reflective moment for him to see where it all began.
We aren't used to thinking of Fr Pat as a particularly reflective person. To
us he has always been the doer and, to be honest, he was never very
comfortable with ambiguities and things that were not clear cut black or
white. The humour was often a cover to avoid confrontation and certainly a
useful tool for winding up the confrere. Pat was one of those members of the
community who would toss in a few controversial words and then quietly
withdraw leaving the rest fighting it out.
I say he wasn't naturally a reflective person but he was a deeply prayerful
man. His room was a private place, you wouldn't easily gain entry. It was
certainly chaotic but amidst the piles of newspapers, papers and books he
would sit with his breviary and rosary, no doubt occasionally nodding off.
Then you would hear the radio tuner searching through the hiss and crackle
for the results from Athlone or West Brom.
Saying Mass was always a very serious part of the daily schedule. And there
in, I think, we touch the essence of the man. Totally committed to his
Salesian priesthood, on fire with a faith first formed on Celtic shores.
Don Bosco's mother, Mamma Margaret, told her son, 'You are a priest, you say
mass and from here on you will be close to Jesus. Remember, however, that to
begin to say mass, means to begin to suffer. You will not notice
immediately, but little by little you will see that your mother has told the
truth'.
I am sure that over his 67 years of Salesian and priestly life Fr Pat's
unity with the Lord has brought about a transformation in many hidden, inner
ways we would find hard to imagine. 'Unless a grain of wheat shall fall upon
the ground and die it remains but a single grain with no life' - but if it
dies, it yields a rich harvest. The fruit of Fr Pat's service in union with
the Lord is seen in the many, many, people who have been blessed by his
ministry those who have been helped to live life to the full and die well.
In recent years, at Salesian funerals, Pat and I would wander round the
gravestones together and remember with affection all those who had gone
before. He was always so grateful for his Salesian Vocation and from his
hospital bed expressed to Fr Michael and others his thanks for all he had
received from his Salesian life. He had no regrets except perhaps, not
starting earlier!
My abiding memory and yours I'm sure, is his smile and the kindly welcome at
every meeting. On arriving at Orbel Street for my second stint in the
Parish - August '94, Pat answered the door clutching Fr McPake's Commentary
on the rule - the Project of Life - his pristine copy was, I'm sure, used to
prop up the bed, but we laughed out loud and that's just how it was - much
of the time. We all loved him a lot.
One theory, often put forward, is that if you run the first 100 yards you
will always be on time for the 239 bus - only walk and you will see it pass
you by. Fr Pat did the run - he didn't let life pass him by. He glimpsed the
reward that was promised and in God's mercy we can almost hear the Lord
welcoming him joyfully home.
I think Fr Pat always saw himself as merely a small cog in a much bigger
concern. Even now he is probably slightly embarrassed at being the centre of
the Lord's attention. But 'the things once invisible are now visible. What
was hidden is now revealed in glory'. 'Patrick, enter into the joy of your
Lord!'
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Some Emails
Dear Friends
Fr Pat McGrath received a wonderful send-off yesterday at the Sacred
Heart Church, Battersea. The church was packed with parishioners,
relatives and friends. Over thirty priests, Salesians and others,
concelebrated with Fr Provincial in the Mass, at which Bishop Howard
Tripp was present, and heard a most inspiring homily from Fr Peter
Brealey SDB, who worked in the parish for many years with Fr Pat.
Dozens of altar servers assisted at the Mass and led the hearse along
Trott street at the end of the ceremony.
It was a fitting tribute to a much loved Salesian. May he rest in peace!
John Ward, National vice-President of the Past Pupils, was there with
his camera and you can read his report on
http://www.blaisdonbrotherhood.info/
--
Fr Patrick Sherlock SDB (GBR Provincial Secretary)
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Dear John,
Greetings from Rome where the sun is shining but it is now quite cold!
Just to thank you for the report and the photos for Fr Pat McGrath's funeral.
Tony Brady's tribute and "McGinty's" support for Aukland remind me of
my own first encounters with "Brother Patrick" in 1946 when he was my
first Latin teacher at Thornleigh. When we asked him where he came
from, though with his name, his accent and large bunch of shamrock on
St Patrick's day, we should have known, he always said "Australia!" RIP.
I hope you are keeping well.
With best wishes and prayers,
Bernard
Fr Bernard Grogan
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Dear John,
Joy in the Lord! Just a quickie to express appreciation for your funeral photo-report for Fr. McGrath.
Bro Patrick, as he was then, was one of the three surviving Salesians that I knew as a boy at Thornleigh.
The other two are Fr. John Bennett and Fr. Michael Lindsay, both in St. Joseph's Bolton. That was in 1947, sixty years ago. Like everyone else, I liked Bro. Pat very much. You did a great job.
I have already arranged for leave from here (Mafinga, now) during next June/July, hopefully to celebrate my own 50th of priesthood. I do hope we can meet up.
With all best wishes. God bless. Brian J.
Former Rector of Blaisdon
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A reaction to the sad news
Just too overwhelmed with sadness at the Passing of Father Pat McGrath. After a time of quiet reflection on a life well lived as a Salesian Priest, Blaisdon Teacher and carer of boys - including myself - I will find the words to express a tribute in due course.
Tony Brady - Blaisdon Old Boy
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A Tribute by Tony Brady
Father Patrick McGrath RIP. Blaisdon boys of my schooling era (1952-1955) will remember this wonderful priest as "McGinty" and forever associate him with Father Francis Rogers RIP Blaisdon 1958. For me, he is fixed forever in that magical 1950s Blaisdon time-warp. Both priests shared their walks and leisure time together and were keen football supporters. Father Rogers, Manchester City and "McGinty", Aukland. It was never clear whether this was Bishop-Aukland or Aukland, New Zealand. Just an aspect of Fr. Pat's quirky humour. In a romantic sense Father Pat was a priest straight out of the movies: Going My Way and Boy's Town come to mind. He was a great fan of the quintessential actor priest - Spencer Tracey.
Fr. Pat's challenging reality though was History and English. I remember his teaching of the latter subject clearly as he loved poetry: "The King sits in Dunfermerline Town drinking the blude-red-wine..;" Sir Patrick Spens - Anon, Hiawatha by Longfellow' and Tennyson's poem - The Lady of Shallot - were particular favourites which we learned from him by rote.
In the playground, the two priests dazzled with their nimble footwork as they dribbled (a tennis ball) up and down the concrete. Their shared particular neat trick was to hold and conceal the ball inside their cassock, run with it, then suddenly reveal it to pass it on or shoot and score on the goal painted upon the school porch wall. On the sloping Park Field or flat Harvey's Acre they were brilliant players. Father Pat all style and mannered panache; Father Rogers the bravura master of brio technique.
As a theologian Father Pat was sometimes responsible for us at Porthcawl Camp, Wales. As we settled for sleep under canvas in a bell tent he amused us with his sardonic wit and renderings of Edward Lear's The Owl and The Pussycat. In memory's eye I see him sitting reading his breviary in the lowered light of a Tilley lamp or, as we roused ourselves in the mornings, reading from some devotional book.
A self-deprecating man: Fr. Pat could laugh at himself and self-parodied his monotone voice in amusing monologues on human behavior idiosyncrasies which he brought to the stage at Academies. I feel poorer by his death but comforted by the rich legacy of his life's work and example. He was always one of the declining Brotherhood of Blaisdon Salesians of whom I think lovingly each day. Adieu Dear Father, may you rest eternally in that perfect peace which is the love and reward found only in the great heart of Christ.