BY Daniel Harkins | June 10 | 
0 COMMENTS 
print
Tributes paid to Paisley priest who died unexpectedly
Bishop John Keenan said the death of Canon Jim Byers, 67, was a ‘big loss to the church’
Bishop John Keenan has paid tribute to a much-loved Paisley priest who died unexpectedly at the age of 67.
Canon Jim Byers, whose funeral was celebrated last week in St Mirin’s Cathedral, collapsed at his home on May 24.
“This is a big loss to the Church and everyone who knew Jim,” Bishop Keenan said. “He always wanted to cheer people up and was a very kind person. He became a Canon in recognition of his service and experience, and I and others in the Church depended on his advice.”
In 2012, Canon Byers, parish priest of St Bernadette’s in Erskine, made national headlines when he climbed Ben Lomond (above) to raise money for the Diabetes Unit at the Royal Alexander Hospital, Paisley. The energetic priest had lived with the condition for most of his life and spoke about how climbing mountains helped him feel closer to God.
Prayers and condolences were paid to the priest by the West Region Scouts, for whom Canon Byers was the Catholic representative. Bishop Joseph Toal of Argyll and the Isles also sent his thoughts saying he was sad to hear of the priest’s passing.
Canon Byers was born in Glasgow in 1947. He was ordained in June 1971 by Bishop Stephen McGill and worked in a number of parishes across Paisley as well as dealing with communications for the diocese.
His funeral was celebrated on Wednesday June 4, followed by burial in St Conval’s Cemetery, Barrhead.
He will be greatly missed by Catholics across Paisley, with many taking to social network sites to pay tribute to a priest who touched their lives.
RSS Feeds