Father Richard Sullivan SDS RIP – Mass of Thanksgiving

Date: 20 August 2007

A personal account from parishioner Louise Madden.

Father Richard Sullivan SDS, Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Parish, Chew Valley, taught three current Bishops during his teaching career and one of them, Bishop Arthur Roche led 18 priests and the Provincial Head of the Salvatorian Order in England in concelebrating his mass of thanksgiving.

Speaking to a packed church he commented, “Pray for a truly great man”.

Favourite hymns and especially composed prayers brought Richard especially close as we knew he had prepared all we were celebrating

There was laughter and tears amongst the solemnities. Bishop Arthur himself a former pupil of Richard's told us that Richard had taught three future bishops at Christleton College, Thomas Williams and Kevin Dunn being the other two, and on their ordination as bishops he had commented that he couldn't vouch for their knowledge of theology, but he was sure that they knew how to dissect a frog!

Father Peter, Provincial of the Salvatorians, spoke warmly of Richard's life.

Stephen McNulty a Chew Magna parishioner, friend and fellow Liverpudlian delivered a eulogy in Richard's memory. We laughed at the irony as Stephen told us he had often told Richard that he didn't approve of funeral eulogies, typical of Richard to get the last laugh!

He reminded us of Richard's great enthusiasm for plans and projects to bring his community together even in “retirement”, even in the last weeks of his life. Of his desire to write a book of spiritual exercises called “Prayerobics”. He compared Richard's ability to use episodes from his own life, especially his set backs or failings, as Jesus himself used parables to reach out to others.

He recalled Richard's pilgrimage to China to visit the home of his inspiration St Francis Xavier. How Richard drew the parallel of his leap of faith from a boat into what he hoped would be the arms of a crew member below, with the leap of faith God asks us to take. As Stephen put it Richard had taken his final leap of faith into the waiting arms of his Divine Saviour. Above all he encouraged us to pray for our friend.

Bishop Arthur made his final prayer for Richard that, “As he had died with Christ in Baptism he may rise with him in glory.” Richard's coffin was sprinkled with holy water and incensed for his final farewell.

After the service, the body was taken to Father Richard’s Salvatorian community at Harrow-on-the-Weald for a funeral Mass and burial.

He was a remarkable man who will be missed by all those fortunate to have known him.
Useful URL : http://www.sds.org