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An obituary for Canon Patrick Sammon
Fr Martin Boland, Dean of Brentwood Cathedral, writes:
Canon Patrick Sammon
23 August 1948 – 16 September 2022
There is a long tradition of energetic priests with a visionary spark who are recognised for their building of churches, schools and parish centres. After forty-nine years of priestly ministry, Fr Patrick Sammon takes his place amongst this prestigious group. While he certainly leaves a legacy in stone and glass throughout the Diocese of Brentwood, he will be principally remembered as a builder of communities of faith. Inspired by the insights of the Second Vatican Council, he came to recognise the importance of “community” as one of the key ways by which people give glory of God. It was no accident that one of his favourite aphorisms was “we are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!”
Fr Pat’s commitment to building communities of Paschal hope was evident in the parishes he served in as an assistant priest and respectively at St Vincent de Paul, Becontree, Most Holy Redeemer, Billericay, Our Lady & St. George, Walthamstow and Our Lady of Lourdes, Wanstead as their parish priest. His attentiveness and care when celebrating the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, drew people into a closer relationship with God. At the same time, his resolve in applying the riches of the liturgical renewal and ensuring the participation of the laity at every level of parish life gave a particular dynamism to his ministry. But there were also his many “hidden” acts of pastoral care, spiritual guidance and wise counsel that countless numbers of people now recall with profound gratitude.
The gifts and vision he brought to the parishes he served were also put at the service of the whole Diocese. As Diocesan Youth Officer he laid enduring foundations for the Youth Service that has nurtured the faith of young people across the decades and he proved a key figure in the establishment of the annual Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage. In his role as Vocations Director, he helped men to discern their vocation and supported them on their journey towards priesthood. His acute mind, good humour and firm hand as a chairman greatly contributed to the Diocesan Child Protection Committee, Diocesan Finance Board and roles as a Diocesan Trustee and as Provost of the Cathedral Chapter.
Although his priestly life was spent on “mission” in England, his identity was undoubtedly shaped by County Mayo, Ireland, the place of his birth where he grew up as the eldest of five surviving siblings and another sister who died in infancy. It was at St Patrick’s Church, Louisburgh on 12 June 1973 that he was ordained by Bishop Patrick Casey and it is in County Mayo that his mortal remains are now buried alongside his parents, John and Janie Sammon. The landscape, traditions and the faith of his family were the rich seedbed of Fr Pat’s character and priesthood.
He was deeply cultured with a particular love of Irish literature and lays claim to being one of the few priests to have actually read James Joyce’s Finnegan’s Wake. His appreciation of classical music and art were to influence his sensitivity to the beauty of the liturgy. His theological reading was broad and rich; an article or spiritual insight would often trigger in him new approaches and pastoral initiatives. Yet only those closest to him would have been aware of such cultural influences or intellectual depths. As a priest he was readily available and at the service of others, yet as a man his privacy was something that he guarded as that inner sanctuary where he stood alone before God.
As his health deteriorated and in more melancholy moments, he would openly question the value of all his efforts. He need not have done. The value was, in the words of W. B. Yeats, that he was “blesséd and could bless”. So many people who experienced his spiritual and pastoral care knew him as a blessing from God. These Easter people now pray, Suaimhneas Síoraí tabhair do a Thiarna. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
Picture by Graham Hillman
taken from https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/news/an-obituary-for-canon-patrick-sammon/
Further information for visiting the Relics of St Bernadette at OLOL.
The following is a guide of what to expect when you visit the Relics of St Bernadette at Our Lady of Lourdes Wanstead on 18th October and there will be a simple ceremony of welcome at 10:30am.
The Relics can be viewed by the public between 3pm and Midnight (except when Mass takes place at 7:30pm) on Tuesday 18th October and between 6am and 9am on Wednesday 19th October
Bishop Alan Willams, Bishop of Brentwood will concelebrate Mass at 7:30pm on Tuesday evening.
You do not have to book to visit the church to venerate St. Bernadette, but booking will help us have an idea of numbers. Bookings can be made here: https://stbernadette.org.uk/registration/
On arrival at the Church, you will be directed by a steward to the queue which will start at the assessable entrance and will go along the Parish Centre and then out alone the outside wall of the Church at busy tines there could be a long wait.
The Church carpark will be closed to all vehicles accept Blue Badge holders and special arrangements are available for disabled pilgrims.
Once you enter the Church, the queue will go down the side aisle and the across the centre, where the Relics will be in front of the sanctuary.
Each Pilgrim has a maximum of 15 seconds in front of the Relics and then you will be asked to leave the Church via the other aisle immediately via the centre doors. disabled pilgrims will leave via the accessible exit.
No one will be allowed to stay in the Church and all the pews will be closed off for the duration of the visit of the Relics, there are no exceptions.
The last pilgrim before the Mass on Tuesday evening will be at 7pm, and pilgrims once again be allowed to visit the relics once the Church has been cleared around 9pm till Midnight.
There will be stewards in the carpark and inside the Church and these are all volunteers, and we request that you follow their instructions, and you are respectful to them.
Last updated: 17th October 2022
Information for visiting the Relics of St Bernadette (updated 7th Oct)
The following is a guide of what to expect when you visit the Relics of St Bernadette at Our Lady of Lourdes Wanstead on 18th October
The Relics arrive at 10am on Tuesday 18th October and between 11am and 3pm on Tuesday is reserved for school parties and members of the public will not be allowed in during that time.
The Relics can be viewed by the public between 3pm and Midnight (except when Mass takes place at 7:30pm) on Tuesday 18th October and between 6am and 9am on Wednesday 19th October
Bishop Alan Willams, Bishop of Brentwood will concelebrate Mass at 7:30pm on Tuesday evening.
You do not have to book to visit the church to venerate St. Bernadette, but booking will help us have an idea of numbers. Bookings can be made here: https://stbernadette.org.uk/registration/
On arrival at the Church, you will be directed by a steward to the queue which will start at the assessable entrance and will go along the Parish Centre and then out alone the outside wall of the Church at busy tines there could be a long wait.
The Church carpark will be closed to all vehicles accept Blue Badge holders and special arrangements are available for disabled pilgrims.
Once you enter the Church, the queue will go down the side aisle and the across the centre, where the Relics will be in front of the sanctuary.
Each Pilgrim has a maximum of 15 seconds in front of the Relics and then you will be asked to leave the Church via the other aisle immediately via the centre doors, and disabled pilgrims will leave via the accessible exit.
No one will be allowed to stay in the Church and all the pews will be closed off for the duration of the visit of the Relics, there are no exceptions.
The last pilgrim before the Mass on Tuesday evening will be at 7pm, and pilgrims once again be allowed to visit the relics once the Church has been cleared around 9pm till Midnight.
There will be stewards in the carpark and inside the Church and these are all volunteers, and we request that you follow their instructions, and you are respectful to them.
Last updated: 7th October 22
Canon Patrick Sammon Funeral Order of Service
The order of service for Canon Patrick Sammon’s Funeral is available to download or view at;
Parking in Dangan Road & Addison Road 29th September 2022
Following a request to Redbridge Council there will be no enforcement of the parking restrictions on 29th September in the roads surrounding the church – Dangan Road & Addison Road.
Please Note that car’s parked dangerously or causing an obstruction may still be liable to receive a PCN.
Further Details for the Funeral of Canon Patrick Sammon
The arrangements have been finalised for the Reception of Canon Patrick Sammon’s body and his Requiem Mass, concelebrated by Bishop Alan.
On Wednesday evening Fr Pat’s body will be received into Our Lady of Lourdes at 7pm and the Church will be open from 6:30pm, the car park will be open on a first come first served basis and once the spaces are full then additional spaces are available at the St Joesphs Convent in Gordon Road and surrounding streets– if you can walk or use public transport please do so.
Thursday morning Fr Pat’s Requiem will start at 11:30am and the Church will open from 10:30am, the Car-Park will be open with limited spaces and once the spaces are filled then people attending will need to find alternative parking – if you can please walk or use public transport.
Once the Church is full, people are welcome to stay outside the Church for the duration of the mass and Holy Communion will be brought to anyone who wishes to receive.
There are refreshments available after the funeral Mass in the Pastoral Centre
The Requiem Mass is being live streamed please follow the link below https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7HmzjWSOUo or via the parish website.
Fr Pat’s Funeral Live streamed
The funeral of our parish priest Cannon Patrick Sammon will be live streamed on Thursday 29th September from 11.30am via
Funeral Details: Canon Patrick Sammon RIP
The Requiem Mass for Fr Pat Sammon will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes, Wanstead at 11.30 a.m. on Thursday 29 September.
His body will be received into the church at 7 p.m. on Wednesday 28 September.
The funeral will be live streamed via;
