Fellow priests and people throughout the diocese were saddened to hear news of the death of Canon Pat Hartnett.
Canon Pat, 70, passed away peacefully on Thursday July 25 at Boarbank Hall Nursing home, Grange-over-Sands, where the sisters had been caring for him during his illness.
Monsignor Gerard Robinson and Canon David Grant both saw Canon Pat in the days before he passed away and he was anointed and received Holy Communion.
Canon Pat was born on May 27 1954 in Middlesbrough, where his Dublin-born father had come to play football for Middlesbrough FC.
He trained for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College, Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland, before being ordained at St Joseph’s Church, Middlesbrough, on June 15 1979.
He began his ministry as an assistant priest at St Vincent de Paul’s Parish, Hull, from 1979 to 1982.
From 1982 to1993, he served St Charles Parish, Hull, as assistant priest, and from 1993 to 2000 he was parish priest at St Mary and St Joseph in Heddon.
In 2000, Canon Pat moved to St George’s Parish in York as parish priest and in 2009 he became parish priest at St Thérèse of Lisieux, Ingleby Barwick, and also had oversight of St Mary and Romuald, Yarm.
During this time he was instrumental in the building of the new church at Ingleby Barwick.
In 2015, Canon Pat was appointed Episcopal Vicar for Spirituality and Worship, and he also became a member of the Cathedral Chapter and College of Consultors and was made a canon in 2016.
In 2019, Canon Pat moved as to All Saints Church, Thirsk, as parish priest, but sadly, in September 2023 he took early retirement because of his cancer treatment and ill health.
Canon Pat was received into All Saints Church on Monday August 19, by Canon David Grant, who also celebrated a Mass that evening.
His Requiem Mass was celebrated at St Mary’s Cathedral, Middlesbrough, at noon on Tuesday August 20.
In a message that was read out at the funeral, Bishop Terry offered his sympathies to Canon Pat’s family.
He said: “In offering sympathy I would also like to express my personal thanks and gratitude on behalf of the Diocese of Middlesbrough for the gift of Canon Pat’s years of ministry to the people of this diocese and for the generous commitment he constantly demonstrated in all his offices and roles within the diocese.
“Priests do not appear from nowhere. Generally, they are nurtured and sustained by their family. And Canon Pat was such a priest and you, his family certainly supported and encouraged him all through his life, not least in these last years.
“Pat fought a hard battle with cancer over these last few years. Despite this, he chose to keep working as best he could while he was able. When I first suggested that perhaps he ought to focus on his personal health, and step down from pastoral responsibilities, he baulked at the idea, and was a little irritated that I should suggest such a thing.
“It was only when the doctors told him there was nothing more that could be done that he even began to contemplate retiring. Despite the persistence of the cancer, Pat was always cheerful and upbeat and a real example to us all of peaceful acceptance of God’s will for him.
“Once again, I would like to thank Canon Pat’s family for supporting him over the years and enabling him to minister and work among the people and parishes of the diocese.

“May the Good Lord grant him the reward of his labours and welcome him into his eternal home with Our Lady, all the saints and his relatives and friends who have gone before him.
“Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.”

Please keep Canon Pat and his family in your prayers. May he Rest in Peace.