Last Saturday Monsignor David Gemmell invited me to attend the inaugural concert of the new organ at St Mary's Cathedral. The concert was great and David was in his usual fine, hospitable form. As ever, I thoroughly enjoyed his conversation and humour and he sent me home in a very good mood.
This morning I read he has died.
Life has a breathtaking habit of sneaking up when you are least prepared... I don't feel so good now.
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I am the Labour Councillor for the Forth Ward and have been a councillor for 21 years. As well being a 'toon cooncillor' I manage the Pilton Equalities Project which is a community based charity delivering services for older people in North Edinburgh. I welcome any and all comments so long as they stay within acceptable boundaries of courtesy...
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Councillor Elizabeth Maginnis
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About Me
- Elizabeth Maginnis
- I am the Labour Councillor for the Forth Ward and have been a councillor for 21 years. As well as being a councillor I also manage the Pilton Equalities Project which is a locally based charity providing services for older and other vulnerable people. I welcome any comments so long as they stay within the boundaries of courtesy...
2 comments:
After the shockingly sudden death of my husband three years ago, our children went looking for a priest to the Catholic cathedral at the top of our street, where Father David and his colleagues were holding one of their regular Sunday evening feasts welcoming newcomers to Edinburgh. Someone led them to Father David, who from that evening on took our entire family under his wing and helped us put together a funeral celebration of my husband's life and expression of our grief at his passing. Several hundred people came to that service from throughout the country and around the world. All felt welcomed and personally included by Father David into the service, no matter what thei religion, nationality, or background was. Although my husband never knew Father David, the service he enouraged us to put together, and personally contributed to- including a standing ovation for my husband in the Cathedral - was completly in character of who my husband was, and helped all of us - his family, and his many relatives, friends and colleagues - begin the process of healing. Many of those who came that day, who had never been in the church before, have since told me they now stop in to the Cathedral to pay their respects to a church honoured by such an inspired and inspiring human being.
Yvonne
Your comment has moved me deeply. With your permission I will pass this on to His Eminence Cardinal Keith patrick O'Brien who I am sure will be as touched as I am. David was a very special person. Your tribute demonstrates that very clearly.
Elizabeth
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