Fr Joseph O’Brien who died on 25th January 2010 aged 87 was buried after his funeral Mass on 5th February at Sacred Heart Church, Hull, where he had been ordained as a priest for our Diocese by Bishop McClean on 22nd February 1975. Bishop Terry was the Principal Concelebrant and he was joined by 20 priests including Mgr Bickerstaffe and Fr Colman Ryan, both residents at St Catherine’s Home where Fr Joe had also resided for the past several years. Two of his nieces, a grand-nephew and great grand-nephew were present; they read one of the lessons and presented the offertory gifts to the Bishop. Sadly his sister, Betty, who had been his housekeeper for a number of years, was too ill in a residential care home to be at the Mass.

As well as local parishioners and a large contingent of Sisters of Mercy, a group from All Saints, Thirsk, where Fr Joe was parish priest from 1983 to 1998, were at the Mass.

In his homily, Fr Michael Marsden emphasised the role of the priest as a servant and support to the laity, and commented how Fr O’Brien saw this as a most important part of his ministry.

After his funeral Mass, Fr O’Brien was buried in the local cemetery.