TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to the late Fr. Fritz (Malachy) O’Kelly (90) of the Friary, following his recent passing.

The friar who lived and worked as a missionary in Zambia for over 40 years “spoke only of the good things,” Guardian Fr. Ciprian Budau told this newspaper.

“I listened and learned so much from him,” Fr. Ciprian said.

“He was so open, so sociable… he was unique in his own place and for his own time,” he added.

Fr. Fritz, whose mother was German and who was proud of his German ancestry, travelled widely throughout his lifetime, including to countries such as Germany, South Africa and Australia.

The mark he left on those he met was such that people from across the world came to visit him in his final months, including from as far afield as Australia.

The man who followed in the likeness of St. Francis of Assisi had returned to Wexford’s Franciscan Friary from missionary work abroad in 2007.

When he was preaching, people came specially to the church to hear his homilies.

In praise, Fr. Ciprian described how Fr. Fritz would have time to be generous to everyone and in order to assist others would himself go without.

“He was always ready to help.

“He never talked about the moment when he slept under the stars, when the rats were tipping his feet.”

Having personally experienced difficulties with alcohol, Fr. Fritz could identify with those experiencing hardship brought about by addiction.

He set up branches of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in several places to which he travelled.

“Fr. Fritz enjoyed jokes and songs, he was a natural entertainer,” Fr. Ciprian said.

Read more in the Wexford Echo.