Death of Fr. Alec Reid, Redemptorist, Peace-Maker.

esker — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 10:03:54 +0000

Fr. Alec Reid C.Ss.R., (RIP) died 22^nd November 2013

The Funeral of Fr. Alec Reid, ‘the quiet peacemaker’, took place on Wednesday November 27th, at 12 noon, in Clonard Monastery. You can watch it on the archives on www.clonard.com

Earlier Announcement:

We wish to announce the death of our colleague Fr. Alec Reid. He died peacefully in a Dublin Hospital at 6.40am this morning (Nov. 22nd).

We extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and those who got to know him as a Redemptorist in the various roles and ministries he held. He will be especially remembered for his work in the Northern Ireland peace process.

Click here for a BBC News report on his life, ministry, and his death.

Click here for his funeral notice on www.rip.ie, or as it appears in the papers.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Remains will be reposing at Marianella Chapel, 75 Orwell Road, Dublin 6 on Saturday 23^rd from 2pm – 8pm and Sunday 24^th from 1pm – 8pm.

Monday 25th Mass in Marianella Chapel @ 11am.

Following Mass Fr. Reid will be taken to Clonard Church, Belfast.

Remains will be reposing at Clonard Church on Monday 25^th from 4pm – 9pm and Tuesday 26^thfrom 9am – 9pm.

Tuesday 26th 7:30pm Ecumenical Service of Gratitude for Fr. Reid’s life and ministry in Clonard Church. Follow live on www.clonard.com

Wednesday 27th Funeral Mass @ 12 noon in Clonard Church. Follow live on www.clonard.com

May he rest in peace.

The death has occurred today, November 22nd, of Fr. Alec Reid, an Irish Redemptorist, who played a major role over many years in working for peace and reconciliation in the North of Ireland. Fr. Alec was 82 years of age. May he rest in peace.

His role was usually in the back-ground, but in March 1988 he was photographed kneeling beside the body of a british soldier who had just been shot dead. This image went all over the world a day or two later when the photographer reluctantly allowed it to be published. It has become one of the iconic images from that time in Ireland.

The story was told in a special BBC programme in March 2013, 25 years after the events, entitled ’14 Days’. ”Watching 14 Days on BBC Northern Ireland last night was the most powerful sermon on following Jesus I have experienced in a long, long time”, wrote one person from Fitzroy Presbyterian community. As Rev Ken Newell, the now-retired minister of Fitzroy Presbyterian, says

“I saw in the photograph Alec himself looking straight into the camera, and I just saw a man of compassion, a man of prayer, a man of faith. It’s an astonishing picture because one of the soldiers was lying semi-naked in the shape of a cross, and his body was blood-splattered. And in that I saw an amazing link with the crucifixion of Christ.”

Fr. Alec was born in Nenagh, County Tipperary in 1931. We understand that he played hurling with the Tipperary Minors before leaving home to join the Redemptorist Congregation in August 1949. He was professed as a Redemptorist in 1950 here in Esker, Athenry, and was ordained priest seven years later in Cluain Mhuire, Galway. He ministered for most of his life in Belfast, and for a period in Dundalk. He passed away peacefully in St. Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin on November 22nd, 2013.

Click here to see an RTE programme about Fr. Alec Reid, entitled ‘The Secret

Rev. Harold Good (left) and Fr. Alec Reid (Right) after receiving the "René Cassin" Human Rights Award from the Basque government.

Peacemaker’.

Check out BBC for their programme ’14 Days’, shown in March 2013.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. (May his faithful soul be on the right hand of God!)

Redemptorists Galway - Esker » Redemptorist priest

Death of Fr. Alec Reid, Redemptorist, Peace-Maker.