Scottish Catholic Observer

In the days since the announcement of the death of Bishop John Mone the diocese has been in mourning but, overtaking this, is a feeling of gratitude for his years of loving service to our people and joy that this good and faithful servant has returned to His Father’s House to receive rest from his labours, and reward for the good he has done.

Within hours of the announcement we had received 900 tributes online and sympathies had reached 140,000 people. It is phenomenal to see how such a kind and gentle shepherd could have had such colossal influence simply by faithfully carrying out his daily tasks.

I want also to add to the river of tribute my own personal gratitude to Bishop John for his fatherly support of me in my first years as bishop of Paisley.

After I had been appointed bishop, and heard it was to be made public that Saturday morning, I called Bishop John and asked him to be with me in the diocesan centre while the announcement was being made. There was no press conference or the like so we just gathered in the kitchen with one or two priests and had tea and toast around the table. All I can remember is Bishop John’s cheerful and unassuming presence and how reassuring it was that he was there. I entered the diocesan centre that morning as a fairly unknown priest and was leaving it as Bishop of Paisley, but already I knew there was a grandfather bishop of the diocese standing behind me and willing me on. It meant a lot!

I immediately requested of Bishop John that we work together, hand in hand, and in the first months he was kind enough to process with me in diocesan Masses, side by side. I heard later that this meant a lot to the people. To me it seemed that, although I had been given the authority of office, Bishop Mone had the deeper and more appreciated authority over the people of years of loving service.

At the beginning, and parachuted in from another diocese, my voice must have had something of the ring of a hired hand to the people and must have been heard with caution. But Bishop Mone had the shepherd’s voice which the people knew and trusted to lead them in and out. I could see that, just by being close to him and associated with him, I was readily accepted by the people, so strong was their attachment to him.

He started to be known with affection as Bishop John the Elder around the diocese as we entered into my first Easter Confirmation season. Bishop John came along to all of the ten ceremonies except one and parents and teachers were, as ever, overjoyed to see him confirming their children alongside me. He had confirmed many of them years ago and still remembered their names! He had a unique gift for that. He missed only one and I felt, for the first time, quite alone and a little less sure of myself. In those first months he was still like a living staff for me to lean on and something of a loadstone where I could set myself secure.

Ever since his retirement 12 years ago, and up until a year or so past, Bishop John was the first port of call for our priests looking for a supply and he was in more parishes than me as he toured the diocese in his wee Honda Jazz to help out.

Latterly his health failed and he moved to the Little Sisters of the Poor care home where he graced the residence with his presence and prayers and where he was looked after in the most wonderful way by the sisters and their staff.

I was able to visit him fairy often to let him know how things were going in the diocese, to benefit from his reflections and ask his advice. I told him he had been a great bishop and reminded him of just how dearly and deeply he was still loved by the people of the diocese. He said that his deepest consolation was how the diocese had all worked together as a family and he kept repeating, ‘We tried our best! We tried!’

During one of my last visits he told me that he was getting a new chair and then he added with a smile, ‘And the diocese is paying for it!’ I said, ‘it’s your new cathedra, your new bishop’s chair!’ and I added, ‘your chair is still the real cathedra of the diocese; I’m just keeping the one in the cathedral warm.’

He laughed heartily but I meant it really. As he was confined to the residence, often to his room, his days were spent celebrating Mass and praying the Office and Rosary for the diocese and, to the end, being the Bishop of Paisley in the only way that really counts, by merit of a life totally given to his people.

Now, please God, he has taken his seat in Paradise and, in the words of St Therese, I am sure he means to spend his Heaven working to continue the good he has already done on earth, in his beloved Paisley and Scotland.