2008: FAREWELL, "FATHER FITZ"

I, AND MANY OTHER VISITORS TO THIS SITE WHO WERE PARISHIONERS AT ST. ANTHONY PARISH IN HAMILTON WILL REMEMBER FATHER PATRICK FITZPATRICK. HE CAME FROM IRELAND IN THE EARLY 60'S WITH A NUMBER OF PRIESTS FROM IRELAND, INCLUDING FATHERS MICHAEL WALSH, DANNY CAHILL, BRENDON WILLIAMS AND THE LATE FATHER LIAM MINOGUE', FOR WHOM ONE OF MY GRANDSONS IS NAMED. THEIR ENTRY INTO THE TRENTON DIOCESE WAS A REFRESHING CHANGE, AS THEY BROUGHT THEIR RICH MUSICAL AND IRISH HERITAGE TO A CONSERVATIVE AND STAID ST. ANTHONY PARISH,AND INDEED, TO THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON.

IT WAS RAINING ON THE DAY OF HIS FUNERAL. ACCORDING TO THE DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER, "THE MONITOR," AFTER HIS BURIAL, A DOUBLE RAINBOW APPEARED MIRACULOUSLY IN THE SKIES OVER KEYPORT, NEW JERSEY.
REST IN PEACE, "FATHER FITZ;" YOU WILL BE MISSED.