Sunday 12 January 2014

Tom O'Gorman, RIP

When I announce the death of a Brandsma Review writer, regardless of the volume of their contribution, my expectation is that I will talk about some worthy old gentleman or lady who lived a full life and had long since been prepared for its final end.  This was the case with the late Louis Power or the late Father George Duggan SM, who died shortly before his 100th birthday and shortly after he filed his last article for the Review which was published posthumously.  For all that, I am concerned for the safety of another long serving contributor, Niall Brady, who is about to leave a tour of duty in Afghanistan with the United States Army these coming days and I would ask all to keep Niall and his family in your prayers
This time, the deceased writer was not an old man, but someone far younger than me.  I speak of the late Tom O'Gorman, researcher for the Iona Institute (http://www.ionainstitute.ie/ ) who wrote the piece about same sex marriage in our July-August edition (see: http://brandsmareview.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/issue-127-july-august-2013/ ).  Tom was a gentleman and a Christian, a man who offered much in the past and who had the potential to offer more in the future, were he not murdered in such a foul manner in his own home in Castleknock in the Dublin suburbs last night.  His name will be inscribed on the list of the Brandsma Review dead, but I will arrange for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to be offered for the repose of his soul forthwith.
On behalf of Sabine, the boys and myself and the entire team behind the Brandsma Review extend our sympathies to the family and friends of Tom and to his colleagues in the Iona Institute at this shocking time.
Anima eius et animae omnium fidelium defunctorum per Dei misericordiam requiescant in pace
In Domino & Domina,
Peadar Laighléis,
Editor

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