From the Newsday newspaper of Sunday March 17th 2013.
Monsignor Peschier dies
Monsignor
Urban Peschier, who served as a priest for close to 59 years, died on
Thursday night at the home of a relative in Arima. He was 83 years old.
Peschier had been ailing for some time from prostate cancer.
He was one of the first priests coming out of the seminary St John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs and was ordained to the priesthood on November 1, 1953, by Archbishop Finbar Ryan, OP, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port-of- Spain.
Peschier served as an assistant priest before being assigned a parish in 1961 in Erin. Over the 1960s and 1970s, he served as parish priest of Princes Town, Mt Lambert and San Rafael. For his 25th anniversary of ordination, he received the honorary title chaplin to Pope John Paul II on March 20, 1979 and the title monsignor.
Peschier studied canon law at St Paul’s University, Canada, 1984-1986. He was assigned to the Archdiocesan Marriage Tribunal on April 3, 1986. Six years later he was appointed judicial vicar of the archdiocese and served until December 2005.
In its series on priests, the Catholic News interviewed Peschier in 2009. He described his work in parishes as providing some of his most rewarding experiences and his most challenging.
Vicar for the clergy, Monsignor Clyde Harvey, said Peschier was a “wonderful example of what the priesthood in its depth is all about. Not about an external show, it is about inner strength of spirit and grace that overflows in genuine love for everybody.”
Harvey said even when Peschier did not agree with something, he preferred to remain silent and speak quietly to the person. “He did not put you down.”
Peschier was “very soft spoken” and because of this, Harvey said, many people did not avail themselves of his gifts and grace. “For those of us who worked with him, he was amazing,” Harvey said.
The funeral for the late Urban Peschier will take place at 10 am on Monday at the Santa Rosa RC, Arima. His Grace Archbishop Joseph Harris will officiate.
He was one of the first priests coming out of the seminary St John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs and was ordained to the priesthood on November 1, 1953, by Archbishop Finbar Ryan, OP, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port-of- Spain.
Peschier served as an assistant priest before being assigned a parish in 1961 in Erin. Over the 1960s and 1970s, he served as parish priest of Princes Town, Mt Lambert and San Rafael. For his 25th anniversary of ordination, he received the honorary title chaplin to Pope John Paul II on March 20, 1979 and the title monsignor.
Peschier studied canon law at St Paul’s University, Canada, 1984-1986. He was assigned to the Archdiocesan Marriage Tribunal on April 3, 1986. Six years later he was appointed judicial vicar of the archdiocese and served until December 2005.
In its series on priests, the Catholic News interviewed Peschier in 2009. He described his work in parishes as providing some of his most rewarding experiences and his most challenging.
Vicar for the clergy, Monsignor Clyde Harvey, said Peschier was a “wonderful example of what the priesthood in its depth is all about. Not about an external show, it is about inner strength of spirit and grace that overflows in genuine love for everybody.”
Harvey said even when Peschier did not agree with something, he preferred to remain silent and speak quietly to the person. “He did not put you down.”
Peschier was “very soft spoken” and because of this, Harvey said, many people did not avail themselves of his gifts and grace. “For those of us who worked with him, he was amazing,” Harvey said.
The funeral for the late Urban Peschier will take place at 10 am on Monday at the Santa Rosa RC, Arima. His Grace Archbishop Joseph Harris will officiate.
So sad for us but a blessing for him. Rest in eternal peace Monsignor - you deserve to.
ReplyDelete