the david gemmell living memorial fund
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The David Gemmell Living Memorial Fund. The Right Reverend Monsignor David Gemmell Born 28 th May 1953; Ordained 23 rd February 1978; Died 6 th March 2008 Act justly, love tenderly, walk humbly with your God Micah 6:8. ABOUT FATHER DAVID. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The David GemmellLiving Memorial Fund
The Right Reverend Monsignor David GemmellBorn 28th May 1953; Ordained 23rd February 1978; Died 6th March 2008
Act justly, love tenderly, walk humbly with your God Micah 6:8
Composite photo of Everest Base Camp,
2004
At a House Mass, 1984
David Gemmell was born in 1953, one of ten children in the Fife mining village of Oakley. There is no doubt that his experience of love and community in the large Gemmell household played a vital part in making him the man he became.
He was ordained in 1978 and throughout his 30 years as a priest his commitment to his vocation was inspirational. In 1997 he was sent to St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh where he was responsible for developing the faith of around 3,000 parishioners, supported by another priest (laterally his great friend Fr Hugh Purcell). In 2003 he became a Monsignor.
In spite of these responsibilities, Father David had a wide range of interests from art and the theatre to fishing and Celtic Football Club. He died suddenly when he was in Barcelona with Hugh to support Celtic in the Champions’ League. He travelled widely in Europe, North America, El Salvador, Mexico, Nepal, Vietnam and China, often with the Cardinal.
ABOUT FATHER DAVID
Rock-climbing at Aberdour, 1991
When he died, over a thousand mourners gathered in and around St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh for Father David’s Requiem Mass. His Eminence Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien was the Principal Celebrant at the Mass for his “best friend in the priesthood”. Over 100 priests concelebrated the Mass for their friend and colleague.
The cardinal spoke these words on 17th March 2008 (paraphrased here with His Eminence’s permission):
Just two weeks ago on Sunday 2nd March at 8.30 in the morning my telephone rang. It was David and he said: “Wasn’t that a fantastic night last night?”; “And you were absolutely great!” He was talking about the opening concert of our new organ and how I had welcomed everyone before it began.
I want to say those words now at this Funeral Mass asking God’s intercession and praying for the happy repose of his soul. I ask each one of you to imagine David now speaking to you about his life, especially as a priest, and that he would say to us, “What a fantastic life I have had; and what a wonderful priesthood!”
David must now realise just what a fantastic life he has had – and what a fantastic priesthood. He must realise just how much he has affected so many people and he would give us the praise saying to us:
“You were absolutely great!”
WHAT CARDINAL KEITH PATRICK O’BRIEN SAID ABOUT HIM
His close friend and doctor, Gerry McPartlin, said these words at Fr David’s funeral Mass, receiving spontaneous applause because it was so appropriate
and reflected how so many in the congregation felt:
How can I describe the David I knew in two minutes?A rock. A comforter.A man of uncanny intuition, empathy and sensitivity.A man of smiles and bear hugs whose warmth and friendship knew no barriers.A man with an enormous appetite for all aspects of life and with an enormous appetite.A leader of men and a man of action who walked the length of the Pyrenees, cycled to Rome and climbed all the Munros.A hairy, sweaty, very human man with very human weaknesses.A man of administrative limitations whose idea of a filing system was to spread his papers around on the floor of his room.A humble man who said “thank you” more often and more sincerely than any other person I know.A man of humour, a super mimic and story teller.An incredibly charismatic man who was always so much fun to be with.But, above all, David was a spiritual man of inspiring faith and sense of the presence of God in his life. A priest who gave of himself with reckless generosity, again and again and again, sharing our pain in our darkest moments.
The inscription on Christopher Wren’s tomb in St Paul’s reads, “If you want to see his memorial look around you”. David’s memorial is around us today – not just in the hall, the Cafe Camino and the new organ but, much more importantly, in this congregation – in the community of faith and love that David has created. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the grief we share today triggered a commitment from each of us to build and cherish that community? Wouldn’t that be a perfect memorial for David?
And so the idea for the David Gemmell Living Memorial Fund was born.
WHAT A FRIEND SAID ABOUT HIM
Gerry at his daughter’s wedding with his new son-in-
law, Jamie, and Fr David
Amongst the many tributes to Father David on the Cathedral website was one from Jean Vanier, inspirational leader and founder of L’Arche, the international network of homes for people with learning disabilities, which said, “I loved F. David very much. May his heart be filled with peace of Jesus and may his friends be consoled by Jesus. Peace, Jean.
L’Arche was founded in France, in 1964, when Jean Vanier invited two men, Raphael and Phillipe, from the local “asylum”, to live with him in his own home. There are now L’Arche homes in 135 communities in 36 countries, including two in Edinburgh and two in Inverness. • L’Arche is ecumenical, rooted in Christian tradition, welcoming and respecting people whatever their personal beliefs. Its communities bring together people who have different cultures, nationalities, denominations and faiths. • In L’Arche, people with and without learning disabilities share home life in ordinary houses, much like any family. Shopping, cooking, sharing a meal – through these simple daily things people learn and grow. • L’Arche recognizes that people with learning disabilities have a valid place at the heart of our society.
LINKS WITH JEAN VANIER AND L’ARCHE
Father David had a great love and admiration for Jean Vanier. He wrote the following during a retreat at Jean Vanier’s home in France:Trosly-Breuil, 18 March, 2003“We need to build communities of love. God is calling us to be holier. It is important that we draw closer to Jesus. We preach the Gospel firstly to ourselves aware of the fact that we don’t always live it. This encourages us to do better. We need to go deeper in our search for true holiness and this we discover in our limitations and weakness. We give our all to our present moment – what lies ahead – only God knows.”
His family decided that it would be fitting to set up a fund in his name.
This fund will be used towards a new L’Arche home or facility that will be named in his memory.
Your support and contributions will therefore make a real and enduring difference to the lives of some of the most unfortunate amongst us.
AIM OF THE DAVID GEMMELL LIVING MEMORIAL FUND
HOW YOU CAN HELP
• Join Gerry on Saturday, April 10, 2010 in climbing Ben Lomond, his first Munro
• If you would like to join Gerry on any other Munro, contact him on 01520 744454 or [email protected]
before April 10th or via Hugo Grant at [email protected] or 07971 009324 after April 10th
• Organise your own Munro climb and donate sponsorship money to the fund - forms can be downloaded from http://dglmf.wordpress.com
• Give via www.justgiving.com/gerrymcpartlin, or by post to “Gerry’s Walk”, L’Arche, 132 Constitution Street, Edinburgh EH6 6AJ
Given our love of the hills and the friendship that took us round them together, it felt very appropriate that I should support David’s memorial fund by attempting a sponsored round of the Munros. I hope to climb all 283 Munros in less than four months, which would be a record for a Senior Citizen.
The Munros are the separate Scottish hills over 3,000 feet in height. They take their name from Sir Hugh Munro who first listed them in the 1890s. Bagging them all involves walking about 1,000 miles and climbing 400,000 feet.
Gerry McPartlin
GERRY’S GERIATRIC JAUNT
Andy, Fr David and Gerry, having completed their climb of all the Munros,
Oct 1996
WHAT YOU CAN DO IN YOUR SCHOOL OR PARISH TO HELP RAISE FUNDS
Sponsorship ideas• Challenge your headteacher, teacher or priest to do something• Run, walk, climb, cycle, swim, diet, KEEP SILENT, juggle, sleep, have a sleepover
Hold a special ‘night’• Bingo, Scalextric, Beetle Drive, Race Night, Pampering evening, Games Night, Cheese and Wine, Beer-tasting, Quiz Night, Burns Night, Easter Parade, International Night, disco, Ceilidh
Sell something:• Cake, bake, car boot, bring and buy, white elephant, jumble, arts & crafts
Hold a community event• Dance Tea for Senior Citizens• Fancy dress party• Board games afternoon – children challenge the adults• Auction of any goods• Famous auction – auction signed copies of books, football/rugby/cricket memorabilia, etc• Young Person’s Fashion Show
EVEN MORE THINGS YOU CAN DO ….
Buy a brick (window, door, roof tile) to build a ‘house’ during Lent
Leg waxing – men only!
Fill a smartie tube or toilet role tube with coppers – the ask the children to place them in a line in church/school to see how far round you get
Bring a pound to school or church each week for the DGLMF
Fill a bucket with pennies
Pack shopping in supermarkets and collect money in buckets
Football cards – buy a name
Buy a star
Home collection boxes
Home meal – invite friends and ask for donation or fee
Guess the weight of the cake
Auction your time for professional services -• Dog walking• Car washing• Ironing• Shopping• Babysitting
Dear God in Heaven, You sent Your son to show us how to live and die in Your service, as Father David did. Help us to act justly in all we do. Help us to love tenderly without reservation. Help us to walk humbly with God. Fill us with the curiosity, humour, insight, humility and humanity that made Father David Gemmell an inspiration.
Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus, come.
A PRAYER IN MEMORY OF FATHER DAVID
Fundraising Committee:Rosemary Reid [email protected] 07928 234195Gerry McPartlin [email protected] 01520 744454Jackie Reville [email protected] 07855 654155Lynne Gemmell [email protected] 07515 515753
L’Arche (Edinburgh) :John Redwood [email protected] 0131 553 3478
Schools:Mary Durkacz [email protected] 07825 580085
Churches:Paddy Ferry [email protected] 0131 317 1387
Raffle Prizes:Kate Hardy [email protected] 07753 986519
The DGLMF website and support for Gerry’s walk:Hugo Grant [email protected] 07971 009324
CONTACTS
The David GemmellLiving Memorial Fund
The Right Reverend Monsignor David GemmellBorn 28th May 1953; Ordained 23rd February 1978; Died 6th March 2008
Act justly, love tenderly, walk humbly with your God Micah 6:8