Please pray for the repose of the soul of Stephen Whittaker, a third year student of our seminary, who died in his sleep on 19th October.
Half Term had just begun that week so Stephen was at home with his family. We were informed by a member of staff who called every single Seminarian on the Tuesday evening to inform us of Stephen's death.
Upon our return to the Seminary we entered a week of mourning, meeting together every day to pray Midday Prayer for the dead.
On Monday last the entire student body, including those on Extended Pastoral Placement, travelled together to Manchester for Stephen's Requiem Mass at St Joseph's parish, Reddish. Mass was said by the Vicar General of Salford and concelebrated by the rector and priests of the Seminary and priests who knew Stephen. The Bishop of Salford had received his body into the church the previous evening and led a Holy Hour and given Benediction, which was beautifully appropriate as Stephen had a great devotion to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Mass was beautiful, the Seminary schola sang the Psalm, the Contakion for the dead and In Paradisum. All agreed that Stephen would have greatly approved.
We then all went from the church to the cemetery where Stephen's Parish Priest led a very emotional Service of Commital and the Dean of Students intoned the Salve.
Please pray for Stephen's family and for all his brother Seminarians who greatly miss him and are currently trying to adjust to life without him.
Requiescat in Pace Ste!
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8 comments:
May the Angels lead him into Paradise.God Bless and comfort his grieving family,friends and brothers in the seminary.
Certainly will pray..
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetal light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
I came accross this blog by accident, simply following links, but I'm deeply saddened by this news. I knew Stephen a little, (albeit years ago) through Youth 2000 events and various prayer groups. I lost touch with him after I went to university but I have very good memories of an exceptionally devout and prayerful young man.
May Stephen rest in peace, and may God comfort his family and his brother seminarians in their loss.
I've been praying for the repose of his soul.
Why the radio silence, for this last month? Was Stephen chief contributor to this blog?
Orthfully Catholic would like to wish all their readers a Happy and Holy Christmas!
We would also like to announce that we will no longer be posting as we feel we have come to a natural end. We would like to thank all our readers of the last 2years and ask for your continuing prayers for vocations to the priesthood.
God Bless you all!
May the Lord bless all you young men who seek to serve Him in lives of holy obedience!
Sorry to see you go, but thanks for leaving the blog up!
Prayers for you all.
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