Sunday, December 19, 2010

GIBRALTAR MOURNS BISHOP DEVLIN, THE IRISH GIBRALTARIAN

Bishop Emeritus Bernard Devlin died Wednesday at the age of 89, at 6.15am, in the Clergy House at the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned. 

His body was taken to St Theresa’s Church at 12 noon by Monsignors Paul Bear and Charlie Azzopardi and other Clergy, escorted by two police riders. 

From there on Friday it was taken to the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned where the funeral Mass took place at 5pm after which he was buried in the crypt at the Cathedral.

A man of the people, this charismatic Irishman beloved of many generations of Gibraltarians will always be remembered as the man who helped create the parish of St Theresa’s and in whose hands a Nissen hut would grow into St Theresa’s Church. 

He was consecrated Bishop of Gibraltar in Rome by Pope John Paul II in 1985, having already served the community as a priest since 1946, mainly at St Theresa’s Church. 

He will be recalled by many walking his black Labrador, Danny, and often stopping at a street bench or at the pub to chat with the members of his flock. 

Once retired it was the bench by the Cathedral where he held many of his last conversations. 

He was ordained a priest in 1945 and retired as Bishop of Gibraltar in 1998.

He is the second Bishop Gibraltar loses this year following the death of Bishop Charles Caruana, both just before and after the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar.

Bishop Ralph Heskett said losing Bishop Devlin was like losing an elder statesman who had given over 60 years of service, and given his life to the people of Gibraltar.

“It is just another sadness after the death of Bishop Caruana, sadness not just for the church but the wider community because he was well known beyond the Catholic community,” he said.

A man, he added, with an Irish sense of humour, tremendously approachable and down to earth, and what you saw was what you got. He first met him during a Mission to the Rock in 1984.

Monsignor Paul Bear, who had been looking after him over the past few years as his health deteriorated, described him as a lovely man who, apart from the fact that he was a great pastor and a great friend to all people that crossed his path, even in his retirement, he made himself available for people’s needs.

“An Irishman from head to toe who was affable, welcoming and hospitable to everyone and truly a Gibraltarian and very proud of Gibraltar,” he said.

Speaking to the Chronicle from London where he has been meeting MPs, Peter Caruana, Chief Minister, said “This has been very sad news. I am sure I join all Gibraltarians, whatever their faith, in mourning Bishop Bernard Devlin who had adopted the Rock as his lifetime home.

A statement from the Opposition said they had been saddened to learn of the death of Bishop Emeritus Bernard Devlin.

“Father Devlin, as he was still known by many, was a very well liked and much loved Bishop, who did much to identify himself with the people of Gibraltar during his ministry.”

The Opposition has expressed its most sincere condolences to his family and friends.

In a statement from the PDP, its Leader Keith Azopardi said: “Bishop Devlin had dedicated much of his life to the people of Gibraltar. He was a humble man of the people who after so many decades of serving the people of Gibraltar had become, in effect, a Gibraltarian. He will be well remembered as a kind and generous man who was very caring towards his parish and following his ordination as Bishop, towards his diocese. His character and demeanour also preached tolerance and respect among the various faiths that cohabit in Gibraltar. He had become very much a part of Gibraltar life and will be sadly missed. He gave his whole life to selfless public service and for that we should all be thankful.”

SIC: GC/INT'L