At 3pm on Wednesday 11 August 2010, the feast of St Clare, Father Tony Barry returned to the Lord. May he rest in peace.

Fr Tony was born on 6th February 1920 and arrived in Middlesbrough from Nottinghamshire. The family lived in St Joseph’s parish in Marton Road, and following his primary and secondary education at St Joseph’s and the Marist Grammar School, Tony began working for the Northern Echo newspaper. Just prior to the outbreak of World War II, at the age of 19, he began his seminary training at Ushaw College. Tony was ordained on 13th April 1947 with Canon Louis Collingwood in St Joseph’s, Middlesbrough.

For the following 20 years Tony fulfilled five curacies at;

• St Wilfrid’s, York
• Our Lady and St Peter, Bridlington
• Our Lady’s, Driffield
• Sacred Heart, Redcar, and
• St Mary’s Cathedral, Sussex Street, Middlesbrough (‘the old Cathedral’) which included an interregnum role at St William’s, Dormanstown.

He had only one appointment as Parish Priest, which was St Clare’s, Brookfield, Middlesbrough which lasted 27 years.

On his retirement, Fr Tony was priest in residence at St Andrew’s, Teesville, where he continued an active and helpful support to his brother priests. Eventually, with failing health, Fr Tony was in residential care.

He was called to the Lord on Wednesday 11th August (the feast of St Clare) at James Cook University Hospital.

A note of appreciation

In his letter to the clergy the Rt Rev Mgr Canon Gerry Dasey (the Vicar General of the Middlesbrough Diocese) also wrote the following;

‘It would be remiss of me not to record the appreciation of the diocese to Mgr Ricardo Morgan who became Fr Tony’s curate in 1973 and remained his friend and support throughout his life, caring for his every need, especially in Fr Tony’s deteriorating health.

‘We express our prayerful sympathy to Fr Tony’s brothers, Peter and Bernard, his sister Maureen, and extended family members.’

Amen.

Arrangements

Fr Tony’s mortal remains will be received into St Mary’s Cathedral on Tuesday evening at 6.30pm.

In accordance with Fr Tony’s wishes his will be a simple Reception into Church.

Requiem Mass will be at 12 noon on Wednesday.

May he rest in peace.