Fr Patrick Erskine, SOB, has died, aged 75. Born in Liverpool in 1909, he entered the Salesian Novitiate in 1925 and was ordained In 1935. Fr Erskine spent the majority of his life in England, as French master in several of the Order's colleges.
Fr Joseph O'Driscoll
FR JOSEPH Alexander O'Driscoll, SM, OD, PhD died in Paignton, Devon, on July 19th 1984. Born in Virgina, Cavan, on February 14th 1902, Alec O'Driscoll studied at St Mary's College, Dundalk. before entering the novitiate of the Marist Fathers in Paignton, Devon. He was professed on Sepbember 12th 1920, and then proceeded to Rome for studies at the Angeficum where he obtained the DID and PhD degrees.
He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on July 12th 1925. Apart from short periods of teaching in the Marist schools In Hull and Middlesbrough, and parochial work in Sidcup and Kew, Father O'Driscoll spent most of his priestly life teaching dogmatic theology to Marist students in Paignton and Dublin.
He was a popular retreat preacher, and one of his retreats to priests formed the basis of his book, The Holy Spirit and the Art of Living, published by Herder in 1959. In 1955 he was appointed Defender of the Bond in the Marriage Tribunal of the Diocese of Plymouth, and served the Diocese in that capacity for several years. When the Marist Fathers left their schotasticate in Paignton in 1971, Fr O'Driscoll became chaplain to the Marist Sisters in Paignton, an appointment he retained until his death. Severely physically handicapped when a young priest, he nonetheless lived a full and dedicated religious and priestly life. His handicap did not prevent him from exhibiting considerable prowess on the golf course!
He will be affectionately remembered by generations of Marist priests who studied under him — and by many priests and religious to whom he gave retreats. Witty and sharp in perception, he was a man of forthright and .precise views; as a confessor and director, kindly and compassionate. Fr Aelred Graham OSB died aged 77. He was educated at St Edward's College, Liverpool after which he worked for six years in the insurance and cotton business in Liverpool. He received the Benedictine habit at Ampleforth on 22nd September 1930 and made his solemn vows in 1934. He was ordained priest on July 17th 1938. From 1933 to 1937 he was at St Benet's Hall, Oxford and attended the Dominican House of Studies at Btackfriar's where he followed the major course in Theology culminating in the degree STL.
Fr Thomas Stack has died aged 63. He was educated at St Edmund's College, Ware, and after ordination, he served at West Green, Chiswick and Ashford, becoming parish priest of Clapton Park in 1970, and then Grove Park in 1973.
Fr Stephen L. Hinde has died. aged 47. He was born in London and educated at Mayfield College. Sussex, He worked briefly as a solicitor's articled clerk before beginning his studies for the priesthood at Campion House. Osterley. He studied at St John's Seminary, Wonersh. from 1957 until 1963. Ordained priest on 8 June 1963. he then spent two years in Rome studying for a degree in Canon Law at the Gregorian University. On his return to England in 1965 he was appointed assistant priest at Arundel Cathedral. During the next three years he also taught canon law and philosophy at Wonersh. From 1968 till 1970 he studied at Bristol university where he gained an M.A. in religious studies. In 1970 he became assistant priest at Horsham. Sussex. and later became Vice Officialis of the Arundel and Brighton Matrimonial Tribunal_ In 1976 he left Horsham and since then has worked full-time for the Matrimonial Tribunal and has also assisted with the work of the Westminster Tribunal. In 1980 he was Arundel and Brighton Diocesan Coordinator for the National Pastoral Congress in Liverpool.