On 2 May, the Archdiocese came together in St Andrew’s Cathedral to say farewell to Fr Desmond Broderick, a much loved priest of the Archdiocese who died on 21 April just a month short of his 100th birthday and just under 72 years since his ordination. Principal concelebrant, Archbishop Nolan, was joined by priests from across the Archdiocese for the funeral Mass, and the Cathedral itself was packed as people came to express their affection for Fr Des.
In his homily Archbishop Nolan reflected that he had just had recently been at the funeral of Fr Martin Chambers who had died suddenly at the age of 59, and now he was concelebrating the funeral Mass of Fr Des who was some 40 years older. However these two were linked by their priesthood and their commitment to the service of God’s people. Fr Des had indeed been retired for 34 years but being a priest was his life. All he had laid down was the administration and demands of being a parish priest but he was still active in ministry. In Nazareth House where he had lived in retirement, he was well known for supporting bereaved families and visiting fellow priests.
For him, his model had been the Good Shepherd who gave his life in service for his people, seeking out the lost, the weak and the struggling, and Fr Des sought to live up to and to live out this model. The Archbishop spoke of his love for others and told the well-known story of how Fr Des had come in to the parish house one day barefoot, having given his shoes to a beggar in the street. He was remembered for his kindness and Archbishop Nolan carried with him the image of Fr Des’s wonderful smile on the last visit he had made to see him. Fr Des had known death was close but so was the resurrection and life with God.
How blest are those who have died in the Lord. Let them rest from their labours
