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Obituary Canon Gerry Breen

Monday 3rd February 2020

Canon Gerry Breen, chaplain to the BLMA, died on 22nd December 2019. His requiem mass on 23rd January at St. Chads cathedral was extremely well attended by the many who knew and cared for him. Gerry Breen was ordained priest in 1986 after studying at Oscott Seminary. Prior to entering training for the priesthood he was already a supporter of Lourdes, first going with his parish as a lay helper. Just before entering the seminary he did a sponsored cycle ride to Lourdes with others for the benefit of the Across Trust Jumbulance, raising £10,000, which was a considerable amount back in 1980.

After ordination, he served as a curate and parish priest in Sutton Coldfield, Kings Heath and Stourport. From 2010 he became a Cathedral Dean at St. Chads in Birmingham, and the director of the Birmingham Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. In 2007 he had been made an Honorary Chaplain of the Lourdes Sanctuary, in recognition of his devotion. He was made a Canon of St. Chads in 2015. Despite some years of ill health, he was always both cheerful and wise. It was always good to see him. He was well enough to come to the Pilgrimage Directors meeting in Dundee in November, and was in good form, but he became unwell suddenly just before Christmas and passed away after a short illness.