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A TRIBUTE TO LATE REV. FR. JOSEPH K. BILLWe are so familiar with his simple and down to earth teachings of catholic faith. He often says,” Jesus suffered for us and died on the cross for us. So this love must be repaid. That is why we have decided to follow Jesus Christ.” He was so convinced of this in his life that he was working day and night to fulfill the same in his own life. He used to say that God repaired his heart about 45 years back when he had his first heart attack, just to spread the love and forgiveness of Jesus every nook and corner of this world. The Almighty called him back to take rest in His presence after 50 years of sincere and faithful service as a Priest. Fr. Joseph Kuruppamparambil, Fr. J.K. Bill for short, was born on Feb 23, 1928 as the forth son of Xavier-Anna couples at Thottakam, Vaikom, Kerala, India. He joined the Vincentian Congregation, a Catholic Religious Organization founded in Kerala, South India, made his first profession on 22.05.52, final profession on 05.01.56 and was ordained a priest on October 12, 1958 by His Eminence, late Joseph Cardinal Parekkattil, the then archbishop of Ernakulam Archdiocese.
Fr. Joseph Kuruppamparambil VC joined St. Vincent’s minor seminary in 1948. He was one of the 10 seminarians of the first batch. Even before he was admitted in the seminary, while he was in the high school classes, he started a project of spreading anti-Communist literature called INTEC, which indeed was very effective in the long run. In the seminary, a group of Brothers joined together under the leadership of Bro. Joseph with the idea of spreading certain devotional practices so as to foster genuine piety among the seminarians especially devotion to Blessed Virgin Mary.
Soon after his Ordination, he involved himself head-long in multivarious activities both spiritual and temporal, such as parish works, and procuratorship of our Generalate. He initiated so many social activities wherever he worked. Total involvement was his characteristic note. Throughout his life he was very optimistic, always cheerful, never depressed, even in very trying circumstances. He never showed a grim face even in very tough situations he had to encounter several times in life. He was responsible for starting schools under the auspices of our congregation especially English Medium Schools, the type of which was very rare in the state at that time He was never discouraged or lost hope. Fr. Joseph was very adventurous and such a spirit was visible wherever he was appointed and whatever he did. His initiative, imagination, originality, his capacity to captivate hearts and minds, his ever smiling face and every diplomatic step he took, reveal his colorful personality and unique leadership qualities. There are many orphanages and schools for the poor to his credit and initiative. It was not his nature to do things half way. He used to be totally imersed as whatever he did. Dynamism in its most intense form had been always noted in him. Even when he had been attached to very many offices in each house, he was overly preoccupied and engrossed in preaching Popular Mission retreats and later Charismatic Retreats. He was in the Novitiate when the first ever popular mission retreat of our congregation was conducted. It was in 1951. He was an active participant in it and settled some adventurous cases that disrupted the unity of families. Soon after his Ordination, he jumped headlong in organizing Popular Missions and conducting effectively various items of the Mission, which were all novel to the generality of the faithful. It was his originality and hard work that added new items and nuances to the customary practices that projected the great new Renewal Programme, which was the Popular Mission. So we can say that he is one of the pioneers of the Popular Mission and to a great extent the one who paved way to its growth and spread of it throughout the length and breadth of the country.
Clarity, effectiveness and practicality marked his preaching always. His commanding personality, his musical trend always arrested the attention of the audience in great numbers. He was always a crowd-puller, not only in India, but all over the world. So many reports of total cure of the personality were ever coming to us every now and then.
Fr. J. K. Bill was one of the flag bearers of the Charismatic Movement back in India. “Go into the entire world and proclaim the Good News to the
He was effectively diplomatic in his relationship with others. He was always generous to others. He practiced the principle of St. Paul that charity covers a multitude of sins. There are occasions when persons duped him in View of his generosity. He never kept any grudge against anybody. Whenever he met even his bitterest enemies, he welcomed them as close friends smiling and in a considerate mood. That is why he used to say, “Unless we forgive from our hearts our heavenly father will not forgive the multitude of our sins. We will have to remain in purgatory until the last bit of our sins is removed. This is the importance of forgiveness in our lives. Do not forget it.” We cannot forget his sterling qualities and what he did for the Vincentian Congregation especially for the African Mission and individuals in difficulties, spiritual, mental and material. It was in 1992 that he came to East African Mission of the Vincentian Congregation with lot of enthusiasm to preach the good news to the people in East Africa. His first attempt In Tanzania transformed many unbelievers into true apostles of Jesus. Very soon news about this zealous Vincentian Missionary spread far and wide in the whole of African Continent. His retreats attracted people in large numbers. People, irrespective of faith, nationality and color flock to his preaching sessions. Meanwhile, he started getting requests from all over the world to conduct healing services. Consequently, he became an international preacher of great reputation within a short time. Bundles of passports and the retreat schedule he always carried will make one understand that how busy he was as a true messenger of Jesus’ love and forgiveness.
With the intention of encouraging people in their spiritual life, he started many prayer homes in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ireland, Germany, Italy,France, Canada and the US. Regular healing services and retreats are being conducted in these centers in line with the spirit and vision of Rev. Fr. J.K. Bill.
The future generation would remember him as a legendary figure. In spite of his human limitations and failures, he always remained a focus of attention. Clarity of his vision, insight, his meticulous planning, boundless confidence, zeal, practicality, dynamism, leadership qualities perhaps unparalleled his capacity to remain close to all those who came across, his simple life style, his ambition to do things, ordinarily unattainable for the common man. A person who meets him for the first time will definitely get himself engrossed in the mesmeric personality. He was immersed in his preaching ministry so much so he had no time for any other entertainment except sharing the word of God. Hi simple life style of wearing the priestly habit all throughout his life, whether at home or abroad elicited surprise as well as high respect from his onlookers. He never cared for his personal comforts. Hours and hours he spent for preaching, standing on his leg, causing edema in his feet. There is no word impossible in his dictionary. This year was his Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee. He could not see 50th anniversary of his Priestly Ordination. A few months before the golden jubilee, he was called by his Heavenly Father. It is only a few days since his 80th birthday was celebrated. At a time when it was the least expected drop-scene of his life drama took place and all those who loved him mourn for his unexpected departure to attain his eternal life. May his soul rest in peace.
Fr. Vincent Rathappillil (Regional Superior)
Testimony of Healings by Jesus Christ through Fr. Joseph K. BillJESUS WANTS TO DO THIS FOR YOU TOO – JUST COME AND SEE!!!
Wednesday 2 April 2008 Dear Friends I write to confirm healings of endometriosis, migraines, asthma and an underactive thyroid through Retreats given by Fr. Joseph K. Bill.
My first Retreat in October 2006 was for severe abdominal pain called endometriosis – a woman’s problem. I had had a hysterectomy in 2003 and thought this was the cure. It wasn’t. Two years later I became very ill with severe and ongoing abdominal, back and pelvic pain with intermittent bleeding. I knew it was the endometriosis back and this condition kept me off work for 14 months. During this time a doctor (who I will not name) told me in the hospital that he did not believe me when I told him how bad the symptoms were. They did not perform any tests or procedures at this time for the endometriosis, only a colonoscopy which was for bowel problems which I was not suffering from. The colonoscopy proved negative which I could have told the doctors at the beginning because I knew where the pain was. So with doctors not believing me and being out of work for so long with bills to pay, I had no alternative but to do a Fr. Bill Retreat at this stage. I had put all my faith in doctors up to this time. Firstly, however, I went to a prayer meeting in Wexford to help with the pain. This prayer meeting took away half of the pain which meant I could travel to Dromantine, Newry, for the Retreat. I was taking morphine for the pain but was crying in pain at the back of the hall when Fr. Bill began his first session of preaching. I knew that I would not even be able to sit in the hall all week listening to Fr. Bill preach with the agony with which I was in, so I went to see Fr. Bill at the first tea break on the first day of the Retreat. I was crying so much that all I could say to Fr. Bill was “Can you take the pain away Father?” Fr. Bill said a very small prayer “Jesus, she’s crying, you’re crying with her, please take the pain away. We thank you Jesus, we Praise you Jesus”. I was still in pain and asked Fr. Bill was I healed and he replied “You only get healed on hearing the Word of God”, I then said thank you Father but added quickly “Do animals go to Heaven?”. Fr. Bill said “Yes”. The reason I asked this was that the Dromantine Retreat took place in October 2006 (first Retreat) and it was Halloween time and I had seen a cat which had been thrown on to a bonfire which was shown on national T.V. but which had subsequently been rescued but ultimately had to be put down. Also, I am very aware of the witchcraft that takes place at this awful time as well, and I LOVE animals (sometimes more than people, I think). Anyway, I went back to the hall and all that day we were reading Faith Scripture. The next morning I got up, washed, dressed and was brushing my hair when I just stopped. I DID NOT NEED TO TAKE ANY MORPHINE BEFORE GETTING OUT OF BED. The pain had gone and has not come back. Neither has any of the back pain, abdominal pain, bleeding or bowel involvement (due to endometriosis as distinct from bowel problems from the bowel itself) come back. Within two weeks I was back at work. So within one day of the Retreat I was healed of the endometriosis, Praise Jesus. But by the end of the week after receiving Holy Communion at the Healing Mass I went back to my seat and I can only describe what happened next as a “Waterfall”. From the middle of my forehead to my pelvis I felt a waterfall effect come from my head to my pelvic region and it was as if I were standing in a shower and this soft water was running down over me. I KNEW that the migraines and asthma were being healed. My stomach pain had already gone. This effect did not happen in my arms or in my legs. It happened twice. The second time it happened I remember that a deep thought came to me that this was to reinforce my faith for whatever lay ahead. It was a couple of days later whilst I was reading at home that I came across a passage from a book on the “Healing Power of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ”, and I knew then that that was what I had experienced at the Healing Mass at the Retreat. So I have to say that I was a very happy person after my first Retreat. There remained a little more asthma to be healed. But from taking two inhalers every month ( I have been asthmatic since 5yrs old but only diagnosed at 8yrs old having been given all kinds of potions which I distinctly remember – Yuk - ) I was put on my first inhaler at 8 yrs old and put on a preventative inhaler at 20 yrs old – Ventolin inhaler and Becotide 50. So from taking two of these inhalers every month, I only took two inhalers in a whole year after my first Retreat. Having been hospitalised on at least 5 occasions for asthma and nearly dying twice from it, I now feel to this day writing this to you that I am completely healed. The asthma was a gradual healing, but I feel completely healed of it now at this time of writing to you and can only stand back in awe at what the Lord has done for me. The migraines were horrific. From having one a year they steadily grew worse to the point where I was getting a migraine once a month, then twice a week to every day for two weeks. I would wake up in the morning and would feel as if somebody had stuck a knife through my left eye into my brain. I would vomit with the pain. Sometimes I wouldn’t have time to make it to the bathroom to be sick. So I would have to bring a bucket up to bed the night before to place beside the bed because I never knew how bad I was going to be in the morning. Again, this kept me from work. I didn’t know you could have a migraine for two weeks. They are NOT just headaches. My stomach would churn and I would retch all day even though my stomach was empty from vomiting. I’m sorry to sound so crude but have to tell what I was healed from. I went back to Knock the following April 2007 for thanksgiving of the three previous healings but also because I still felt unwell. I asked the Lord to let me know why I felt so tired and sick all the time and by end April 2007 I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and put on 50 micro grams of thyroxine (Eltroxin). Doctors told me that I would lose weight and feel good. Up to this time I had steadily been putting on weight and was feeling pretty brutal. I had no energy, my hair was falling out and I was sleeping nearly 18 hrs a day and having to take time off work sick again. My hair felt like a haystack – even the hairdresser passed comment on it. So because the doctors said I would feel much better on the tablets, I decided to weigh myself before taking them to see how much weight I would lose (as the doctors had said I would). The tablets did the opposite to what the doctors said. I gained one pound of weight each week. Having been 10st 12lbs before starting these tablets I went up to 12st 7lbs and stabilised at this. I knew something was wrong with this medication. My hair started growing at an abnormal rate and I nearly went psychotic because I just couldn’t sleep at all on these tablets. With the result that after literally two nights of not being able to sleep I started crying at work in nearly a breakdown mode and had to go on sick leave for several weeks shortly after. I don’t know if any of your readers are familiar with an underactive thyroid, but for me, I was steadily putting on weight which wouldn’t shift and I felt decidedly very strange in myself and was sleeping nearly all the time. The effort of moving took extraordinary determination of will. It was a terrible experience. Doctors were even talking about increasing the dose. I thought to myself, well, if this is the effect I’m having on 50 micro grams of thyroxine (Eltroxin) then I’m hardly going to go on a higher dose of the stuff, but didn’t say this to the doctors. Instead, I decided to do another Fr. Bill Retreat. I saw Fr. Bill and told him “Fr. I have been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and I want Jesus to heal me” Fr. Bill then said “Jesus, please heal the thyroid and everything…..” then he waited for a second or two. I believe he was listening to Jesus. And then Fr. Bill said “Jesus has healed you” and I said “Thank God”. The next day I was able to get up at 6 a.m. and put in a full day at the Retreat and went to bed at 11 p.m. and slept “like a baby” as Fr. Bill would say!! Again, shortly after I was able to return to work. I should add here that it was before the Retreat that I stopped my medication because it just wasn’t agreeing with me. Fr. Bill does not advocate stopping medication and I would like to make this quite clear. I stopped medication of my own accord BEFORE the Retreat because of the effects the tablets were having on me. With an underactive thyroid one has to give blood every two weeks ( I didn’t know this as I was never called back for blood tests). But last January 2008 I was called back to the Hospital for an ultrasound for the thyroid. On Friday March 28 I was called again to discuss the thyroid ultrasound results and was told it was NORMAL, Praise Jesus. I knew this was the case anyway, so wasn’t surprised. Then the Specialist did a physical examination just pressing on the neck region and he said “it’s normal”. He then asked me when was the last time I gave blood and I told him that it was last October. He answered by saying “not in the last two weeks?” and I replied “no”. He told me that they were going to take blood that day and I said “the blood will be normal”. He asked me “How do you know the blood will be normal, are you doing something else that you’re not telling us about?” I then told him that I went to see a healing priest who prayed with me and then told me that “Jesus has healed you”. I showed him my Cross and said “I’m not telling any lies” because I know we’re not supposed to swear by anything which is stated in the Bible but I’m not sure where. He wished me good luck and told me to ring back next week for the results. Today I was given the blood results. They are NORMAL. I am so thankful to Jesus for what he has done for me, a sinner. All I know is that He wants to do the same for anyone else who goes to Him. I sit back in wonder each day at what has happened to me since October 2006 and have to say that I am now thankful that the original doctor in the Hospital did not believe me when I was complaining of the original illness, endometriosis, because now I have received so much more healing than any human can give. Doctor’s cannot heal, they are only human. Only JESUS heals!!!! Alleluia. Praise Jesus.
There is also inner healing going on which is also important but I feel I cannot put it here at the moment.
All I want to do is talk about Jesus, not myself. I am a sinner and no saint – far from it – and Jesus did this for me. AND HE WANTS TO DO MIRACLES FOR OTHER PEOPLE TOO, IF ONLY THEY WOULD COME TO HIM. I really didn’t know Jesus before the Retreat. Fr. Bill would hold up a chocolate at the Retreat and say to us all “By hearing about this chocolate for an hour, will you experience it? And of course the answer is no. And so it is with Jesus. By hearing about Jesus we do not EXPERIENCE him. But at the Retreat everyone will have a personal encounter with the Lord. Jesus will not disappoint anyone.
I intend going to further Retreats because I know how much healings take place there. Fr. Anthony is very good to come to us to help us all. Jesus will work through Fr. Anthony powerfully and not one of us will be let down by him. Everyone who goes to Fr. Anthony’s Retreats should EXPECT MIRACLES, nothing less. After all, Fr. Bill chose Fr. Anthony, so he is somebody very, very special. We can expect healings of every kind. All we need to do is just “GO AND SEE”. Praise Jesus for not leaving us alone. These are exciting times. Let us all welcome Fr. Anthony with open arms and keep him very much in our prayers, and let us all look forward to future Retreats and further healings. PRAISE JESUS!!!! And so the work goes on friends. Let us all spread the news of the upcoming Retreats in Ireland, in Knock and Dromantine in May. Let us all pray for these upcoming Retreats in preparation for the mighty works which the Lord has in store for every one of us. HE IS JUST WAITING FOR US TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND GO TO HIM.
So this is my Testimony. The thyroid condition can be confirmed by Wexford General Hospital.
God Bless you and your work.
Regards,
Siobhan McNamee THE MISSION OF FR. BILL CONTINUES…………Dear Friends of our Beloved Fr. Bill,
For those of you who have not as yet heard, our dearly beloved Fr. Bill has died on March 14, 2008 in Gulu, Uganda. It has been a great shock to all. His funeral was held on the 19th March, the feast of St. Joseph. His remains were laid to rest inside the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal in Entebee, Uganda, which he himself had just officially opened himself last year on Our Blessed Mother’s birthday, 8th September 2007 on the grounds of the recently completed Vincentian House.
He will be dearly missed by all of us. He was always so very thankful for both your financial and prayer support these past years. As you know you were very much remembered in his daily Mass and prayers and since the opening of the Shrine, he requested his priests to have a Mass offered daily for you and your intentions in thanksgiving for your support.
A group of us, namely from Germany, Ireland, France, Poland, USA and Korea were privileged to attend Fr. Bill’s funeral in Uganda. We herewith attach a summary of same from Fr. Vincent, the Regional Superior in East Africa. During our time there, we were very fortunate to see at first hand some of the projects undertaken through the initiative of Fr. Bill. It is difficult to express what it meant to us to see what Fr. Bill and his devoted priests have accomplished in such a short time and under such difficult circumstances in E. Africa. It is a great witness to their selfless dedication and constant work and truly a credit to them all.
We visited the Divine Mercy Renewal Centre in Masaka, where Fr. Bill laid the foundation stone on 06th Sept. last year and this year, it was blessed by Rt. Rev. John Battista Kaggwa of Masaka Diocese on 23rd Feb. which was Fr. Bill’s 80th birthday. It is located on a lovely mountain top and can be seen from a great distance in all directions. At the moment, the priest’s house there is under final construction, and they expect to take up residence in May. Once there, they will immediately begin their Popular Missions and will continue to work on the remaining projects, such as Miraculous Medal Shrine, Adoration chapel and a residential retreat house. Such projects have begun in Dar-es-Salaam and Kigoma in Tanzania. Fr. Bill’s vision also included the intellectual and moral formation of children. For this, schools are planned for Entebbe and Uvinza.
The Vincentian Congregation in East Africa earnestly desire and request that the vision of Fr. Bill be fulfilled in all its totality. Those of us who have been working with Fr. Bill for his worldwide evangelization mission are of the same conviction. We believe that Fr. Bill has already begun to intercede for us from Heaven and especially in this instance. The Superiors have selected Fr. Anthony Vadakkemury to continue the programme of Fr. Bill worldwide. Fr. Anthony has been working closely with Fr. Bill for the last five years . Fr. Bill specifically invited Fr. Anthony to attend his last retreat in Africa and then they both travelled to Gulu and preached the Popular Mission together, until the night of his death. It was a blessing for Fr. Anthony to be with Fr. Bill at this time, to receive his blessing during that week and to have the honour of Fr. Bill dying in his arms. For this reason, among others, we believe we must continue this mission with Fr. Bill’s intercession and blessing. We support the choice the Superiors have made and will work with Fr. Anthony, as we did with Fr. Bill, knowing that otherwise Fr. Bill would ‘hound’ us!! Fr. Anthony has agreed to continue with Fr. Bill’s worldwide programme. We cannot let the worldwide vision of Fr. Bill go unfulfilled, therefore his mission continues.
We invite you to contact us at any time, if you would like to hear more of our experiences concerning the lifelong work of Fr. Bill during our stay there. It was truly memorable and a life changing experience for us all. May God bless you and may Fr. Bill intercede for us all from Heaven.
BLOOD for BLOOD! LIFE for LIFE!
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Joan (Gallagher )
What would Fr. Bill want us to do NOW?"What would Fr. Bill want us to do NOW?" and then to say "Fr. Bill would want us to follow Fr. Anthony and to EXPECT MIRACLES - NOTHING LESS!!! JESUS has not left us alone. PRAISE JESUS!!!! He has given us Fr. Anthony who has been chosen by Fr. Bill so he is very, very special. Anyone who goes on the Retreats can expect healings of every kind. JESUS will never disappoint us. We are living in very exciting times. JESUS still wants to heal. But we have to go to Him. So COME AND SEE. Its up to all to help spread the news of all the worldwide retreats. It would be a brillant way of saying Thank You to Father Bill and to the Lord especially as Father Bill had put in so much effort for us all to be happy. And it would also be a great way of welcoming Father Anthony 2. Letter“Take it as a challenge” (Fr. Bill) Dear Friends of our Beloved Fr. Bill,
Like myself, I am sure a lot of you are still in shock and disbelief at the death of our beloved teacher and brother. Our greatest consolation is that he is now most definitely in the presence of the One he spoke so lovingly about to us every minute of his life. We are the true witnesses of how he lovingly did indeed ‘give every second of his life, every cell of his body’ to Him whom he now can see face to Face.
In the shock of his death, I wrote about the cancellation of Knock and left the remainder of the year’s schedule at a standstill, since I could not think at the time what to do. However, since that, I believe that even though Fr. Bill may be gone from our sights, he is most certainly not gone from our thoughts and memories. I also believe, like the Hound of Heaven he spoke of each week, he himself is beginning to ‘hound’ me!!!!!!!
Naturally in the last few years and especially the most recent months, we had spoken about his death and his mission and his wishes after his death. These conversations are coming strongly to mind and to give it to you in brief, I believe Fr. Bill would most certainly not want us to stop now. He did not start this worldwide evangelization mission, just to have it ended upon his death. This was most certainly not his intention. We simply cannot allow all the love and untiring work he put into this world, to be forgotten and left to die. Just like Jesus was with the apostles for three years, teaching and preparing them (unknown to them) for his eventual departure, then sending them out all over the world to continue His Mission, so too have we now all been ‘taught and prepared’ by Fr. Bill to go out also and continue his mission. Of course, there will never be another Fr. Bill – this is a fact. But Fr. Bill’s mission was evangelization and Total Person Therapy - a fact he would always argue. It was not about him but about Jesus. His retreats tell us this, when every sentence he spoke contained the words Jesus or Bible. He was, as he repeatedly told us, ‘a donkey for Jesus’!
I would like each of you to think and pray hard – speak with Fr. Bill – he now has all the time in the world to listen to us and in his own way, he will answer our questions. I remember how, sometimes exhausted during counselling late at night, people would come out and tell me ‘he fell asleep and I didn’t have the heart to waken him’ and then suddenly he would awake and ask them a question out of the blue which was exactly what was needed, Upon their answer, he would give them the advice and walk out on air! So even though he is by no means sleeping, he will answer us and above all, I know he will help us if we are open to continuing to work for his mission. He told us how he would work even harder in Heaven – so he is waiting on our requests!! And again, knowing Fr. Bill, he would want our first priority to be ‘ bring them to a retreat’!!!!
I will be speaking hopefully with his Provincial and I intend asking him about plans to allow one of Fr. Bill’s disciples to continue his work. I know he had some, specifically in mind to follow him. What I need to know from you all is if you would still be willing to continue to organise the retreats and see how things go?
He did all the ‘ground’ work and I firmly believe its now up to us to continue the ‘building’. So who is up for the challenge?? Please get back to me ASAP!!
So, giving Fr. Bill the last word……
“ DON’T WORRY!! BE HAPPY!! DO IT FOR JESUS ”
God bless you all Fr. Bill, RIP - upcoming schedule for 2008Due to the sudden departure of our beloved Fr. Bill, we wish to inform you that for the time being, we will NOT cancel any retreat engagements. Fr. Bill would wish his mission to be continued and we hope that one of his chosen disciples will continue this great work. Some representatives from Europe and USA will be travelling to Entebbe to attend Fr. Bill's funeral and we will speak with his Provincial. As soon as we know how to proceed, we will inform you on this website. As Fr. Bill would say, 'Don't worry, BE HAPPY!' You can also contact the individual representatives from each country for further information regarding the schedule.
Update 18.03.2008: It has been confirmed that Father Bill's Mission (RIP) will be continued immediately! That means the schedule is still valid. 1. LetterIRELAND
It is with the deepest regret that I must inform you all that our beloved Fr. Bill passed away just a few hours ago in Gulu, Uganda. He had been giving a Popular Mission there. The Lord I believe must have felt it more fitting that his loyal and tireless servant celebrate his Golden Jubilee with Him in Heaven and for this I am happy. I received a call from his great worker, Fr. Binu in Entebbe. He had just heard the news and naturally was in great shock. He told me Fr. Bill had taken ill and was brought to the hospital and went into a coma and died. Fr. Binu was not with him but was on the way to the hospital when he called me. I believe he got a pain in his chest and died about 2.30am. I had just spoken with Fr.Bill on Tues night and as always, he was in great form. I have also been told by Fr. Binu of the following: Fr. Bill will be buried in Entebbe and his funeral will take place on: WEDNESDAY, 19th March, Feast day of St. Joseph, Fr. Binu said the funeral most likely will be in the afternoon – this again I am not sure of but most likely to give people time for travel, etc.
For your information, Fr. Binu said that it is possible to obtain a visa ON ARRIVAL in ENTEBBE. This may make it easier for lack of time available. Unfortunately in Ireland, today (Friday) and Monday are feastdays (St. Patrick) and I believe all embassies will be closed. So already Fr. Bill is helping us in this respect! I shall put any other details on the main website www.frbill.net when I get them but think the above is enough for anyone thinking of attending his funeral. Those who intend to travel to Entebbe, please let me know as soon as possible, as Fr Binu said he would try and book accommodation nearby and I should inform him of numbers. What else can I say – I know, like myself, you will all be in shock. The only consolation we have is this very special person we all knew and loved and who wanted to make us all HAPPY, is most deserving and definitely extremely HAPPY now himself and celebrating his Jubilee at the Heavenly Banquet with the Holy Trinity, Our Blessed Mother, all the Angels and Saints in Heaven and of course, not least his own earthly family – I don’t know of anyone on this earth who deserves this more than our beloved Fr. Bill. He can now speak face to Face with the Jesus he so lovingly spoke of all these years. Just like St. Therese, he often said he would NEVER lie still even in Heaven so let us now begin our requests and get his path for Sainthood started as soon as possible! He gave every minute of his life while with us, so let us now repay him for his unending love and tireless work. I believe we should do our best, in thanksgiving, to begin a process for this. Those of you who want to join me in this, please contact me by email. Meanwhile we pray for this. There is nothing left to say. His hundredfold reward he now enjoys with all the Saints he spoke of every day. It was our greatest priviledge and honour to know and serve this Saint on earth. I know he will never forget us either in Heaven. Regarding the retreats, I was told by Fr. Jose to cancel the ones closest, namely Belgium, Ireland and the Healing Services in N. Ireland, Uk. And Germany. I am not sure if it will be arranged for another priest to take over the remaining schedule or what you, the organizers want, so please let me know. The final decision will be made by the Provincial regarding his schedule but obviously this will take some time. Again, I will put this information on his main website when I get it.
May our dearest Fr. Bill rest in peace AMEN.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL and thank you FuneralFr. Bill will be buried in Entebbe and his funeral will take place on WEDNESDAY, 19th March, Feast day of St. Joseph, 2pm UGANDA TIME (GMT +3). Find more information and a contact address on the reporter information site.
Funeral BroadcastThe Funeral will be broadcasted on Radio Maria the 19th March 2008 at 11:00 GMT (14:00 Uganda Time). To listen to it, click on the link below and then go to "RM Uganda". http://www.radiomaria.org/emt_media.asp?LNG=ENG&MNU=01&SUB=01&SLC=SUB&PRG=MDAS#
I would be thankfull if anybody could record it digitaly and send it to me, so I can put it on this website. Thanks a lot! [webmaster]
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