May Archbishop Anthony Meagher Rest In Peace

After a lengthy four-year battle with cancer, Archbishop Anthony Meagher died peacefully on (Sunday) January 14, 2007. Born in the year 1940, he was ordained a priest in 1972; then he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto in 1997, and finally he was named Archbishop of Kingston in 2002.

A few months after being appointed archbishop of Kingston, he was diagnosed with cancer. Cardinal Francis Stafford, then the Vatican official responsible for World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, jokingly said to him, "God must love the Church of Kingston very much to send her a sick shepherd."

Although faced with problems such as clergymen shortage and financial difficulties, Archbishop Meagher had devoted a lot of his times and efforts to welcome and receive priests from all dioceses. Father Raymond de Souza said, “It is rare and commendable for a bishop to act as a true father to his fellow priests, however, Archbishop Meagher had made it happen.”

Before Archbishop Meagher passed away, he wrote one last note to his flock: “God allowed me to be sick at this time in order that I might be better able to relate, as Chief Shepherd, to all in our Archdiocese who are not well. I really believe that this is a mission that God has given me, and I am astounded to see how God has been able to use my weakness to touch the hearts of so many people in a positive way.” Father Raymond de Souza said, “God has sent him as a witness of faith in the face of suffering, which has always been the central drama of human existence.”

While still serving as an auxiliary bishop in Toronto, he had hosted a liturgy in our parish church. And whenever I passed by Kingston to visit him, he always greeted me in a warm and friendly way. This is one thing I have learned from him.

May Archbishop Anthony Meagher rest in peace.