The Late Fr Jim Fitzpatrick

Fr Jim Fitzpatrick, (43), who passed away last Saturday after enduring a lengthy illness at his home in Alderbrook, Ferns, was laid to rest in Ferns Cemetery this afternoon.

Bishop Denis Brennan, who presided at concelebrated Mass in the presence of a packed congregation in St. Aidan’s Church, Ferns, led the tributes to the Gorey-born priest who served as a curate at Ferns for 14 years.

“We are here today to do for Fr Jim what he himself did many times for many people, to commend him to the love and care of God our Father, and to pray for the comfort and consolation of his family,” began Bishop Brennan, who continued, “No parent expects to lose a son in the prime of life, it’s not natural, it’s not the way you expect things to happen. But every so often it does happen, and when it does it’s heart-breaking.”

The bishop said that what Fr Jim’s life has been about, planting seeds that one day will grow, here in Ferns and in Screen- Curracloe, watering seeds already planted, seeds of faith and hope, seeds of belief and encouragement.

“We mourn the loss of all this today, a son, a brother, a friend, a brother priest, a community builder. We are sad for what might have been, Fr Jim’s life was full of promise, for himself and for others,” concluded Bishop Brennan.

Full report in THE WEXFORD ECHO Group of Newspapers on sale from Tuesday morning.