Obituaries

Fr Anthony Mortimer Cunningham Fr Gerard Albert Collins
BORN ON 11 October 1915 at Warley, Brentwood, Gerard Albert Collins, after studying at St Joseph's College, Ipswich, worked for four years with a firm of solicitors before applying to train as a priest for the Diocese of Northampton. After preparatory studies at Campion House, Osterley, he left England in 1937 for the English College, Valladolid, arriving in the midst of the Spanish Civil War. In 1942 the Second World War eventually made it necessary for the English College to temporarily leave Vallodolid and join the English College in Lisbon where he was ordained on 10 April 1943 by the Archbishop of Lisbon.
On his return to England, he was sent as a curate to Fakenham and then from 1944-1946 to St John's, Norwich. His early beginnings in the legal profession and his meticulous eye for detail were to stand him in good stead when from 1946-1949 he was sent to the Bcda College, Rome, and gained a Licence in Canon Law at the Lateran University.
The next four years were spent as secretary to Bishop Leo Parker, following which he was to serve as parish priest in Daventry, Kettering, Little Chalfont (twice) and St Margaret's, Luton. In this time he was also the Administrator of the Cathedral, Chancellor Officialis and Vicar General of the Diocese. Along with the Bishop he was responsible for acquiring the land and overseeing the building of more than 100 churches and 40 schools in the rapidly expanding Diocese of the 50s and 60s.
A man of endless energies, his retirement to St Anthony's, Slough, gave him the time to pursue his passion for historical research, the fruits of which will be a valuable resource in the archives of the Diocese. Despite his failing sight, he remained active right up to his sudden death at St Anthony's on S July, from where he was buried in Slough cemetery on 12 July. Fa ANTHONY Cunningham, parish priest of St Paulinus Church, West Auckland, in the Hexam and Newcastle Diocese, died last month following a serious heart attack which he suffered when he was taking Communion to a sick person. He was 85 years old.
Fr Cunningham's first appointment was as assistant Priest at West Hartlepool, St. Cuthbert's, from September 1936 until September 1938 when he went to study at St Edmund's House, Cambridge, for four years. He was taught by the famous Professor Leavis and gained a degree in English.
He returned to the diocese in July 1942 and in September that year was appointed to St Cuthbert's Grammar School in Newcastle-uponTyne. He taught there until August 1947 when he was appointed Headmaster at St Mary's Grammar School in Darlington.
On 11 April 1959, Fr Cunningham was appointed parish priest of St Wilfrid's at Bishop Auckland. He moved to St Paulinus, Bishop Auckland, on S November 1991 where he faithfully served the people until his heart attack on 22 June. He died on Thursday, 27 June at 6.30am. He had almost completed 60 years in the priesthood, having been ordained at Ushaw by Bishop Thorman on 26 July 1936.
Sr Rose Goodear RGS MBE
THE MANY FRIENDS of Sr Rose Goodear will be sad to hear of her recent death at the Good Shepherd Convent, Blackley, Manchester. She was 88 and had been a Good Shepherd Sister for 60 years.
In 1971, the Queen honoured Sr Rose with the MBE for her services to youth.
Rose Goodear trained as a teacher in London and taught at Mount Carmel School, Blackley, before joining the Sisters. As a lay teacher, she was founder member of the Legion of Mary in the Salford Diocese in collaboration with the famous Frank Duff. She pioneered new methods of child care in Liverpool and Monmouth and was consulted by the Home Office in preparation for changes in child care law.
Her pupils at Benton Grange won over 100 medals in an eight-year period in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
In retirement, Sr Rose put her writing talent at the disposal of the Catholic Communications Centre and later was appointed Deputy Press Officer for the Archdiocese of Liverpool. Her delightful brand of humour is amply illustrated in her two books, Goodbye Approved School and The Lord is my Shepherd.
Fr Kieran Connolly OFM
EDWARD FRANCIS Connolly was born in Glasgow on 6 July 1914 and joined the Franciscan noviciate in 1930 receiving the religious name, Kieran. After ordination he studied at St Edmund's House, Cambridge, where he obtained an MA in political economy.
Fr Kieran then served in various roles in the Franciscan training programme. In turn he taught philosophy, was student master and novice master. In 1945, he moved to be headmaster of St Bernardine's College Buckingham and Guardian of the community.
Six years later he turned to parochial work. He was several times Guardian and parish priest in various friary parishes in England and Scotland. For a time he worked with the Radio and TV Centre in Hatch End.
In later years he served the English expatriates in Funchal. Afterwards he spent time in various hospital chaplaincies in the US. His last five years were spent as chaplain to the Jesus and Mary Convent in Felixstowe, until his sudden death on holiday in Dublin on 24 June.