THE Roman Catholic Diocese of Georgetown, and indeed the entire Catholic community, has been plunged into deep mourning with the recent passing of Father Oliver Farnum of the Diocese.

Father Farnum died on November 24 last after a period of illness. He was 71. His body was on Monday interred at Our Lady of the Mount Cemetery, Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara, following a well attended Mass in celebration of his life at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam. Celebrant was His Lordship Bishop Francis Alleyne, OSB.
Leading up to the start of the mass, there was the viewing of the body at the Cathedral where hundreds, comprising members of the clergy and laity, family members and other mourners and sympathisers, filed past the coffin in solemnity and awed reverence to pay their last respects.
A brother of Father Farnum, Mr. Laurie Farnum, who travelled from London for the funeral, delivered brief but moving tributes on behalf of himself and other siblings. “His sudden death was a shock to all of us,” he said. In the tributes, Father Farnum was eulogised as a wonderful person – full of life, love and with a great sense of humour; humble but very conscientious. Reflecting on the 24 fruitful years his brother spent in the priesthood, Mr. Farnum conceded that, “Guyana was his (Oliver’s) chosen country and priesthood was always his calling.”
Father Farnum, in a humble and brief overview of his 24 years as a priest, once wrote:

“It (priesthood) involves:
* The absolute necessity to cultivate a life of prayer as a first priority
* A constant desire to serve the community in which one is living, especially the underprivileged and also a willingness always to be available to others.
* To see the sameness and routine which often come with parish life, as moments to listen to the voice of God and to wait on his will.
* To accept that one is also very human and that one will make many pastoral mistakes, but that God will work out his plan through the self-acceptance and self-forgiveness needed to be part of one’s whole attitude.
* Despite all that happens in parish life, that God has given one a vocation and that one’s fulfillment and satisfaction will come in trusting in his call and divine plan.”
Meanwhile, there were several glowing tributes in honour of the late priest who had come to be loved and greatly respected and admired within the Diocese and wider community. This was highlighted at an ‘Evening of Prayer and Tributes’ held at the Catholic Life Centre, Brickdam last Friday.

HOSPITAL CHAPLIN
Father Farnum, a Hospital Chaplain, had a passion for hospital ministry and for several years visited the wards of the Georgetown Public Hospital where he ministered to sick persons, prayed with them and in many ways won souls for the Lord. Doing it as unto God, he humbly submitted to God’s will and purpose for his life. He performed his duties with distinction, but remained humble, and according to patients as well as staff in the wards, his was a labour of love. Naturally his visits to the wards were always greeted with an attitude of hope and enthusiasm by patients.
Indeed, Father Farnum’s very life epitomised what he lucidly outlines in the excerpt from his writings, and that is: “A constant desire to serve the community in which one is living, especially the underprivileged and also a willingness always to be available to others.” A void has been created in the hospital setting and the view was expressed that Father Farnum will be greatly missed.